What:	National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Patient Advocacy Group Launch Pancreatic Cancer Research Map During Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month NCI and the Pancreatic Action Network (PanCAN) will launch the first phase of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Map (www.cancermap.org/pancreatic) on November 8. The map will facilitate collaborations among researchers in the pancreatic cancer research communities. In phase 1, NCI-sponsored projects, funding opportunities, and a database of pancreatic cancer investigators will be available. Similar information for nonprofit and private organizations will be added to the database during the next phase. Although the map is intended primarily for researchers, patients and their families could use the Web Site to see what studies are underway and where researchers with investigations of interest to them, are located.
Why:	Pancreatic Cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. More than 31,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year. Only 4 percent of patients survive 5 years beyond diagnosis. The Map will enable the research community to find and search a comprehensive list of studies and projects relevant to pancreatic cancer. Researchers can use the Map to identify partners for collaboration.
Who:	Cherie Nichols, MBA, Director, Office of Science Planning and Assessment, NCI and Paula Kim, President of Scientific and Government Affairs and Co-founder of PanCAN are available for interviews; they can discuss: How the Map will help speed research How the Map can be used to identify gaps in areas of research funding How the Map could be a model for harnessing information regarding other cancers
When:	Monday, November 8, 2004
Contact:	Ann C. Benner at (301) 496-6641 or ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov