In honor of Cancer Research Month, we’re spotlighting an outstanding investigator each week who’s dedicating their career to finding a cure for #pancreaticcancer. Meet Julien Dilly, MS – a PhD candidate at Harvard University and a research fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Julien received the 2023 PanCAN Fellowship, funded by the Francois Wallace Monahan Fund in loving memory of Michael Insel. 🔬 Julien is tackling one of the toughest challenges in pancreatic cancer: drug resistance. With nearly 90% of pancreatic cancers driven by KRAS mutations, understanding how these tumors resist KRAS-targeted therapies is critical. Through innovative models — including patient-derived organoids and genetically engineered mice — Julien is studying how tumors adapt and resist treatment. His goal? Identify new biomarkers and combination strategies to make KRAS inhibitors more effective for patients. Join us in thanking brilliant minds like Julien, who are driving progress and bringing hope to everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer. 💜 Read more about his work at http://pcan.at/4j9xo5. (fb)

Last month marked an incredible milestone — Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of PanCAN, celebrated her 25th anniversary with the organization. Julie’s journey with PanCAN began after losing her dad to pancreatic cancer just four months after his diagnosis at age 52. She wanted answers. Why wasn’t more being done? Why were patients being sent home with no options? What started as a #PanCANvolunteer effort to create PanCAN’s first brochure turned into something so much bigger. In 1999, she became our first employee. By 2000, our first Executive Director. And in 2004, President and CEO. Back then, the five-year survival rate was just 4%, and #pancreaticcancer was one of the most underfunded and least understood cancers. But Julie saw what could be possible — and never looked back. In the 25 years since, under Julie’s leadership, PanCAN has: 👥 Grown from a one-person staff to a national organization with 145+ team members 📍 Expanded grassroots engagement through nearly 60 volunteer affiliates nationwide 📈 Increased federal funding for pancreatic cancer research by 1075% 🔬 Invested more than $235 million in research 🤝 Built a united, empowered PanCAN community of researchers and clinicians, patients, survivors, volunteers, and donors Julie has also led on the global stage, founding and chairing the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, now made up of 100+ organizations from more than 30 countries. She’s been a trusted voice in national media, a relentless advocate on Capitol Hill, and a convener of the brightest minds in the fight against this disease. Congratulations, Julie, on 25 years of extraordinary leadership. Your vision, dedication, and tireless commitment have made a lasting impact on the pancreatic cancer community and beyond. We are incredibly grateful. 💜 If you have a message or memory you'd like to share in celebration, we’d love to hear it in the comments! (fb)