Pancreas Centre BC

Pancreas Centre BC is a pancreatic cancer research and care centre based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 2012 as a unique partnership between BC Cancer, Vancouver Coastal Health and the University of British Columbia (UBC). The centre is dedicated to advancing care for British Columbians with pancreatic cancer by making research discoveries that can be rapidly translated into better treatments. Its clinical and research activities are closely tied to Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health's flagship hospital known for expertise in diagnosis, surgery and pathology of pancreatic cancer, and to the BC Cancer Research Centre, which hosts scientists studying cancer biology, genomics and population-based outcomes. The centre operates through a combination of research programs, education resources and clinical partnerships. Its research efforts include a biobank, the IDEAS initiative, publications, and a familial program. It also provides public-facing educational material on pancreatic cancer facts, risks, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The organization emphasizes collaboration among patients, researchers, donors, governments and funding agencies, and it relies on philanthropic support through the BC Cancer Foundation and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Pancreas Centre BC has received significant philanthropic commitments, including a $5 million gift from the Hager family to advance pancreatic cancer research and a $3 million gift from The Jack & Darlene Poole Foundation to VGH for pancreatic cancer care and research. The centre highlights the severity of pancreatic cancer, noting that nearly 600 British Columbians are diagnosed each year, most with advanced disease, and that overall survival is only about 6%. It positions itself as a hub for accelerating research discoveries into clinical impact in British Columbia.

Pancreas Centre BC was founded in 2012 as a partnership between BC Cancer, Vancouver Coastal Health and the University of British Columbia (UBC). The centre was established with the support of donors through the BC Cancer Foundation and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, reflecting a philanthropic model aimed at building a major pancreatic cancer research centre in British Columbia. From its inception, the centre has been closely associated with Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health's flagship hospital, which is known for its expertise in the diagnosis, surgery and pathology of pancreatic cancer, and with the BC Cancer Research Centre, which hosts scientists studying cancer biology, genomics and population-based outcomes. Many of these researchers are UBC faculty or affiliated with other universities across British Columbia. The centre's mission is to advance care for British Columbians with pancreatic cancer by making research discoveries that can be rapidly translated into better treatments. Over time, it has developed research infrastructure including a biobank, the IDEAS initiative, a familial program and a publications record. It also provides educational resources covering pancreatic cancer facts, risks, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The organization has received notable philanthropic commitments, including a $5 million gift from the Hager family to advance pancreatic cancer research and a $3 million gift from The Jack & Darlene Poole Foundation to VGH for pancreatic cancer care and research. These donations are highlighted as examples of how private giving directly supports the development of a pancreatic cancer research program in British Columbia. The centre continues to operate as a collaborative hub linking patients, researchers, donors, governments and funding agencies.

• 2012

  Pancreas Centre BC founded as a partnership between BC Cancer, Vancouver Coastal Health and UBC.

• Hager family gives $5 million to Pancreas Centre BC to advance pancreatic cancer research.

• The Jack & Darlene Poole Foundation gives $3 million to VGH for pancreatic cancer care and research.

A partnership-based pancreatic cancer research and care centre focused on rapidly translating discoveries into better treatments for British Columbians.

• Biobank

  A research resource for pancreatic cancer studies.

• IDEAS initiative

  A research initiative of Pancreas Centre BC.

• Familial Program

  A program focused on familial pancreatic cancer.

1. 1Pancreas Centrepancreascentrebc.ca
2. 2About | Pancreas Centrepancreascentrebc.ca
3. 3Pancreas Centre (Canada) - Wikidatawikidata.org