Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Reports Progress
BLOOMFIELD HILLS -- Sky Foundation Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and funding research for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, Wednesday announced it raised about $111,000 in 2011, bringing the total raised since its inception in 2008 to nearly $340,000.
Sky Foundation funds a scientific and physician partnership between the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Health System and Wayne State University. The foundation's goal is to fund research to develop an advanced blood screening test identifying antibodies indicating a malignancy in the pancreas. The antibodies will be used as diagnostic markers that aid in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
Sky Foundation raised the money in a variety of ways: at its annual brunch in November, and through individual gifts, memorial donations, and smaller fundraisers.
Also in 2011, Sky Foundation funded two blood draw events as part of a clinical research study by Henry Ford Health System and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute to develop a rapid and inexpensive blood screening test for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. In early 2012, it began funding a research study of blood serum specimens obtained at the time of endoscopic ultrasound, a procedure used to diagnosis pancreatic cancer.
"I am thrilled that we are able to fund these two very important components of the research project, and I am hopeful this means that very soon we'll have the test to detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage," said foundation founder Sheila Sky Kasselman.
The Sky Foundation research team consists of Michael Tainsky, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University; Steven Dudas, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Ann Silverman, M.D., War Memorial Hospital, Sault Ste. Marie; Osama H. Alaradi, M.D., Henry Ford Health System; Robert Pompa, M.D., Henry Ford Health System; M. Margaret French, RN, Henry Ford Health System
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.skyfoundationinc.org.
