Kosten Foundation Donates $180,000 to Fund Pancreatic Cancer Research Teams
Memphis, Tenn., February 16, 2022 – The Kosten Foundation announced today it will fund $180,000 in grants in 2022 for research teams focused on pancreatic cancer. The Memphis-based pancreatic cancer nonprofit is partnering with Baptist Clinical Research Institute in Memphis, University of Texas Southwestern’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center in Dallas, Texas, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in Edinburg, Texas.
“We’re incredibly proud to support these research teams as they break new ground and work towards our goal of curing pancreatic cancer. The Kosten Foundation is grateful for the continued support of the community and our sponsors which allows us to continue making a difference in the fight against this deadly disease,” said Alan Kosten, Chairman of the Kosten Foundation.
Over the last 19 years, the Kosten Foundation has donated nearly $2.5 million to pancreatic cancer research and support. The organization’s largest fundraiser, the Kick It 5K, raised more than $147,000 during November 2021’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Summaries of the Kosten Foundation-funded programs are below:
- Baptist Clinical Research Institute
- Studying genetic mutations associated with ampullary, bile duct, and duodenal cancers that may allow immunotherapy treatment of these diseases
- Studying neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy treatment on these cancers prior to surgery
- UT-Southwestern Medical Center
- Researchers will collect clinical data and tissue samples to study patients with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in order to increase diagnostic success of pancreatic cancer and develop personalized treatment plans for patients.
- UT-Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
- Researchers are studying the effectiveness of a gene therapy designed to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer and make it more vulnerable to chemotherapy
In addition to its funding efforts for pancreatic cancer research, the Kosten Foundation hosts a monthly support group for pancreatic cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, or anyone affected by the disease. The free support group meets virtually via Zoom on the second Saturday of every month and is open to all who would like to attend. Anyone interested in learning more about the Kosten Foundation, or wanting to attend the support group, can find more information on the Kosten Foundation’s website at https://www.kostenfoundation.com.
Left to Right: Dr. Vivek Kashyap, Ph.D. – UTRGV Assistant Research Professor School of Medicine (SOM) Department of Immunology & Microbiology; Dr. Vijian Dhevan, MD, MBA, FACS – UTRGV Assistant Professor of School of Medicine (SOM) Surgery Department; Dr. Subhash C. Chauhan, Ph.D. – UTRGV Professor & Chairman of School of Medicine (SOM) Immunology Department and Director of South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research; Dr. Michael Hocker, MD, MHS – Dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine (SOM) & Senior Vice President of UT Health RGV; Dr. Gurdial Singh, Ph.D. – Chief Executive Officer of Dozo Bioteck Inc.; Dr. Anupam Dhasmana, Ph,D. – UTRGV Assistant Research Scientist School of Medicine (SOM); and Dr. Mohammed Sikander, Ph.D. – UTRGV Assistant Research Professor School of Medicine (SOM) Department of Immunology & Microbiology
Left to right: Tom Craig (Kosten Foundation), Kathryn Gilbert Craig (Director of Community Engagement, Kosten Foundation), Scott Fountain (SVP & Chief Development Officer, Baptist Memorial Health Care), Ann Bishop (System Administrator of Oncology, Baptist Memorial Health Care), Alan Kosten (Chairman, Kosten Foundation), Jeffrey Goldberg (President, Kosten Foundation), Dr. Stephen Behrman (Baptist Medical Group-Metro Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery), Maggie DeBon (Executive Director of Developmental Research, Baptist Clinical Research Institute), Liset Taybo, (Director of Research, Baptist Cancer Center)