This year, more than 66,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. That includes about 3,600 New Yorkers. Here on Long Island, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has already made great progress in the fight against this deadly disease. But with more than 51,000 people expected to die from pancreatic cancer this year (2,800 in New York), the need for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches remains urgent.
To help address this need, New York State has announced $15 million in funding for a new Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence at CSHL. The Center is part of CSHL’s Foundations for the Future expansion project.
“New York State is leading on innovation in the healthcare space, and this funding will advance research to better understand pancreatic cancer—one of the most devastating forms of cancer,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. The governor recently visited CSHL for a closer look at our ongoing expansion. Here, she met with CSHL President & CEO Bruce Stillman and CSHL Chair Marilyn Simons.
Take an aerial tour of the construction site at the heart of CSHL’s Foundations for the Future expansion. Hear more from Governor Hochul as she meets with CSHL President & CEO Bruce Stillman to discuss the project.
“New York State’s commitment offers a catalyst to mobilize further private investment in pancreatic cancer research at CSHL,” said Simons. “On a personal note, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when he was 75. He went to the doctor, asked for an exploratory operation, and lived another 14 years. But few people are so lucky. Our wonderful scientists at Cold Spring Harbor are working with Northwell Health and the Feinstein Institutes to help more people get access to the latest biomedical advances. On behalf of the CSHL Board of Trustees, I thank the governor for her support of this exciting initiative.”
In related news, CSHL recently extended its affiliation with Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in the state. One of the greatest success stories of this collaboration has been the development of pancreatic cancer organoids—living 3D tissue models that allow for disease analysis and drug testing. CSHL Cancer Center Director David Tuveson is leading this critical effort.
Of course, like other deadly diseases, pancreatic cancer knows no state lines or national borders. And Foundations for the Future isn’t just about cutting-edge research happening here in New York. It also aims to enhance CSHL’s capabilities as a hub for science education and international collaboration. The expansion includes a new Conference Center and Collaborative Research Center with more than 100 rooms for visiting scientists. This will allow for more long-term collaborations of the kind that helped put CSHL on the map.
Check out the video above for a bird’s eye view of our massive expansion project.
Written by: Samuel Diamond, Editorial Content Manager | diamond@cshl.edu | 516-367-5055