It will be an opportunity for Queen’s to present a snapshot of latest research to address pancreatic cancer; a disease that is stubbornly difficult to diagnose and treat.

The symposium will provide an opportunity to bring together researchers, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders who are collectively focused on changing outcomes for the better, for patients affected by pancreatic cancer.

Queen’s researchers will discuss the latest advances in the field of pancreatic cancer research, including;

· Identifying individuals at a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer

· Overcoming treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer

· Role played by genetics in pancreatic cancer

· New frontiers in diagnosis and early detection in pancreatic cancer

· Key findings from NIPANC’s latest NI Pancreatic Cancer Audit 2019-2020.

Additional speakers include Professor Mark Taylor, Consultant Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgeon at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, who will discuss the latest innovations in chemotherapy in the ongoing battle against pancreatic cancer.

Professor Dan Longley, Director of the PGJCCR at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “We are really delighted to be hosting this important event at the end of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

“It gives us the opportunity to showcase our work in early detection and screening for pancreatic cancer. We will also be highlighting the work done by the Northern Ireland Biobank to create a collection of pancreatic cancer samples from which we are making new discoveries about the disease as well as new work emerging from our research laboratories that aims to identify more effective ways of treating pancreatic cancer.”

Ivan McMinn, a pancreatic cancer survivor of 12-years and Trustee of NIPANC, Dawn Crosby, Head of Devolved Nations for Pancreatic Cancer UK along with the Department of Health for NI will also discuss how new partnership working can help improve pancreatic cancer pathways.

In a joint statement, they said: “This is a wonderful opportunity on the final day of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month #PCAM to shine a light on the importance of collaboration. We firmly believe working together and pooling our expertise will have many benefits for pancreatic cancer patients. Our collective focus is to bring about better outcomes for those diagnosed with this devastating disease.”

Media

Media inquiries to s.devlin@qub.ac.uk