The Hirshberg Foundation has been a longtime supporter of the American Pancreatic Association (APA), a membership organization for physicians and researchers interested in diseases of the exocrine pancreas. The mission of the APA is to foster clinical and basic science research needed to cure diseases of the pancreas. Their annual meeting brings together an international group of scientists and clinicians to identify the best course of treatment and discuss the most up to date research results for pancreatic diseases. To learn more, visit American-Pancreatic-Association.org.

The 42nd Annual Meeting of the APA was held November 2 - 5, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Hirshberg Foundation sponsored the keynote symposium and awarded the best clinical and scientific abstract presentations during the national meeting. 

The 2011 awardees:

Best Clinical Abstract

Presented to: Stefan Fritz, MD
University of Heidelberg
Small Branch-Duct IPMNs – by far Not as Harmless as Supposed

Best Basic Science Abstract

Presented to: Lidong Wang, PhD
University of Michigan
ATDC synergizes with oncogenic Kras to induce invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma in transgenic mice

The 2010 awardees:

Best Clinical Abstract

Presented to: Gaurav Aggarwal, MBBS
Mayo Clinic
New onset Diabetes in Pancreatic Cancer: A study in the primary care setting

Best Basic Science Abstract

Presented to: Farzad Esni, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
Loss of Hif2a Accelerates the Progression of Kras-Mediated Pancreatic Neoplasia

The 2009 awardees:

Best Clinical Abstract

Presented to: Nameeta Mujumdar, PhD
University of Minnesota
Title: Inhibition of Autophagy Triggers Apoptotic Cell Death in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Best Basic/Experimental Abstract

Presented to: Toru Furukawa, MD, PhD
Tokyo Women's Medical University
Title: Prognostic Relevance of Morphologic Types of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas