Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair in Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research

Enrique Rozengurt, DVM, Ph.D., FRCPath (UK), AGAF, Distinguished Professor of Medicine, UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases, and Director of CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center was named the inaugural Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair in Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research in 2000. This distinguished position helps guide basic science in developing new therapies and finding a cure for this deadly disease, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in America.
Fundamental discoveries in the field of regulation of cell growth have produced a dramatic improvement in our understanding of malignant transformation, tumor progression and invasiveness and provide the best hope for developing novel therapeutic approaches for this a disease. These include the identification of the intracellular signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. These novel concepts, some of which pioneered by the research of Dr Rozengurt, are now been applied to pancreatic cancer.

Recognizing the importance of fundamental discoveries as the first step in the process of translational research, the Hirshberg Foundation created the Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair in Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research. The major goals of the research are:

• Identify the cause(s) of pancreatic cancer
   
• Facilitate the early detection of pancreatic cancer
   
• Extend the lives of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
   
• Find a cure for pancreatic cancer

current research projects 

• G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in pancreatic cancer
   
• Targeting crosstalk between insulin/IGF-1 and GPCR signaling in pancreatic cancer
   
• The role of AMPK in pancreatic cancer
   
• Antidiabetic strategies in pancreatic cancer: Metformin
   
• Development of rational approaches to combined therapy
   
• Targeting the AMPK/mTOR axis
   
• Characterization of PKD signaling in pancreatic cancer cells
   
• Identifying PKD as a novel target in pancreatic cancer
  
  

Laboratory Director: 

J. Enrique Rozengurt, DVM, PhD, FRC Path, AGAF, Distinguished Professor of Medicine

• Ronald S. Hirshberg Chair of Pancreatic Cancer Director
• CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center/Chief of Research, Division of Digestive Diseases
   

laboratory fellows and staff:

Current Funding:

NIH/NIDDK	R01 DK56930
Principle Investigator:	Dr. Enrique Rozengurt
Dates:	05/30/2006 - 06/01/2011
Total Amount:	$1,356,255
Description:	GI peptide signaling through tyrosine phosphorylation
	The major goals of this project are to identify the role of GI peptide-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in signal transduction pathways implicated in cell migration and proliferation.

NIH NCI	R21 CA137292
Principle Investigator:	Dr. Enrique Rozengurt
Dates:	5/01/2009 - 4/30/2011
Total Amount:	$372,680
Description:	Targeting crosstalk between insulin and Gq signaling systems in pancreatic cancer
	The major goals of this project are to characterize a novel crosstalk between insulin receptor and Gq signaling in human pancreatic cancer cells. A second goal of this project is to test whether metformin inhibits this crosstalk and offers a novel approach for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer, using tumor xenografts in nude mice.

NIH NIDDK	P30 DK41301
Principle Investigator:	Dr. Enrique Rozengurt
Dates:	11/30/2009 - 11/30/2014
Total Amount:	$4,725,000
Description:	CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center
	The major goals of this P30 Core Grant is to support multidisciplinary research, transfer of information and the award of seed grants. The CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Core Center Grant supports multiple Scientific Cores, a Pilot and Feasibility Program, the recruitment of a Named New Investigator and an array of Enrichment Activities regarding the function and diseases of the digestive system, including the exocrine pancreas.