# Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer

> **NIH NIH P20** · NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $2,088,884

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Although the survival for other cancers improved during the last ten years, the outlook for pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains grim. The average overall 5-year survival rate for PDAC is 10.8%. The
mission of the Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer (CDTSPC) in Phase II is
to enhance and sustain biomedical research infrastructure at North Dakota State University (NDSU) by
developing externally-funded, independent translational research of the Junior Investigators, expanding Core
Facility services, and recruiting new investigators. The Covid pandemic-related restrictions hampered our
progress in Phase I. Still, the investigators received seven nationally competitive research grants totaling $9.6
million, published more than 50 papers, and graduated 17 Ph. D. students. Two Junior Investigators and three
pilot project leaders received tenure and promotion. NDSU hired four new Assistant Professors with research
emphasis on pancreatic cancer. Two new Core Facilities were set up – Animal Studies and Biostatistics. The
two facilities served 19 COBRE and 33 other investigators. The Animal Core Facility created comprehensive
mice models for the first time on campus, including 7 patient-derived mouse models (PDX) of pancreatic cancer.
CDTSPC is the only established Facility in North Dakota with the capacity to support foundational and
translational research on pancreatic cancer. In Phase II, we will further expand the biomedical infrastructure,
emphasizing translational research and prepare for a self-sustaining Center through the following Specific Aims.
Aim 1. Provide enhanced mentoring to develop sustainable, independent, translational research projects for
Junior Investigators. The three investigators will address three urgent challenges in pancreatic cancer: targeted
drug delivery to desmoplastic tumors, synthesis and evaluation of new therapeutic agents, and determining
epigenetic-genetic alternations in patient tissues for effective treatment. Each Junior Investigator will have two
external mentors to encompass foundational and translational aspects. In addition, a clinician-scientist will serve
as the Translational Science Liaison for the Center to bridge the foundational and translational elements.
Aim 2. Augment biomedical research infrastructure of NDSU by expanding COBRE Core Facilities. We will
expand the Animal Studies Core Facility to include tissue histology, imaging modalities, establish and maintain
additional genetically engineered models, continue developing the PDX model systems, and establish a tissue
biobank of human, PDX, and mouse pancreatic cancer tissues. In addition, the Biostatistics Core Facility will
expand services to support projects using "big data," bioinformatics, and machine-learning analysis.
Aim 3. Integrate the Center into the national pancreatic cancer network. We will expand collaboration with
eminent pancreatic cancer researchers in the US. We will build...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10496129
- **Project number:** 2P20GM109024-06
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sanku Mallik
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $2,088,884
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-03-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10496129

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10496129, Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer (2P20GM109024-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10496129. Licensed CC0.

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