Standing Up for Science: 8 Powerful Ways to Protect Pancreatic Cancer Research 

Federal funding cuts to cancer research are devastating—but we’re not giving up, and neither should you!

Know the facts –

• NIH (National Institutes of Health): The Trump administration has proposed an $18 billion cut—a 37% reduction—to the NIH’s FY2026 budget, endangering its role as the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research.
• NCI (National Cancer Institute): Facing $1.6 billion in proposed cuts, despite being the primary driver of cancer breakthroughs since the War on Cancer began in the 1970s.
• DOD Cancer Research Programs: Funding slashed 57%, from $1.5 billion to $650 million, threatening programs like the Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP).

Why it matters and who it hurts –

• Science takes time. Cancer research is inherently slow, collaborative, and cumulative — a single drug can take 10 to 20 years to develop. Yet federal funding has dropped 31% year over year, halting not only new projects but also canceling approved, peer-reviewed studies already delivering results.
• NIH has fundamentally improved cancer treatment and outcomes.  Without NIH, we would not have:
  • CAR-T therapies that help children with leukemia.
  • mRNA vaccine platforms, now being tested for pancreatic and colorectal cancer.
  • KRAS inhibitors, targeting the “undruggable” mutations driving pancreatic cancer.
• The economic toll. NIH research generated $94.6 billion in economic activity in FY2024 and supported over 400,000 U.S. jobs. Proposed cuts have already led to layoffs and, if enacted, will shut down labs, cancel trials midstream, and waste billions already invested — delaying lifesaving breakthroughs for years.
• Pharma and philanthropy can’t completely fill the gap. Private investment focuses on short-term returns, while philanthropy, though valuable, contributes only a fraction of what NIH provides. Foundational, high-risk research, long timelines, and scientific infrastructure depend on federal support, which drives the very breakthroughs the private sector later builds on.
• Misinformation hurts everyone. NIH grants support lab staff, nurses, and early-career scientists, not personal gain. Cuts framed as budget trimming have already led to treatment delays, closed labs, and terminated studies, while misunderstood “indirect costs” are essential for infrastructure that keeps lifesaving research running.

In moments like this, our strength lies in our community. Your voice matters more than ever and when we speak up together, we’re a force for progress and a beacon of hope. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you.

Here are 8 simple and powerful ways you can act today and stand up for the future of life-saving pancreatic cancer research:

1. Get frustrated – we are too!
   Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers — yet receives only a fraction of federal research funding. Patients and families have every right to be outraged. Channel that frustration into advocacy: share your story, support research projects that mean something to you,  demand action from your policymakers.

2. Volunteer at the forefront of discovery
   Lustgarten collaborates with top-tier research centers, like those at Northwell Health, Johns Hopkins, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory – institutions that are leading the way to better treatment options.  Consider volunteering at a Lustgarten Walk or at local hospitals and research centers with a pancreatic cancer focus. Don’t know where to start? We’re here to help!
3. Advance scientific progress   
   Traditional grant cycles take several months or years. That’s why we are committed to accelerating the most promising science, bringing us closer to our vision of a future where pancreatic cancer is curable. Check out how Lustgarten is advancing the translation of basic science research into the clinic.
4. Demand federal support
   Call your representatives! Ask them to restore NIH and NCI funding specifically for pancreatic cancer. Despite being the third-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., it receives less than 3% of federal cancer research funds. Less is unacceptable.

5. Create or join community hubs
   Host a community fundraiser or attend a Lustgarten Foundation Walk. Local action raises awareness and brings new supporters to the movement. *100% of Walk donations fund pancreatic cancer research.
6. Fund the future
   Early-career scientists with bold ideas are most at risk—yet these are the types of research projects that have historically led to groundbreaking discoveries in pancreatic cancer. Even short-term uncertainty can put the talent pipeline at risk – check out how Lustgarten is supporting early career development.
7. Embrace research innovation
   From vaccines to AI-driven early detection tools, science is evolving fast. Help us fund high-risk, high-reward with the potential to change the game – check out how Lustgarten is prioritizing innovation and collaboration to drive discovery.
8. Be loud. Be visible. Be heard.
   State the facts and dispel misinformation when and where you see it! By sharing the impact of funding cuts with your family and friends, you’re bringing us closer to life-saving treatments and a cure. The more visible pancreatic cancer becomes, the harder it is to ignore. Awareness fuels funding. Funding fuels hope.

How will YOU stand up?