PancreasFest

PancreasFest

Funder: National Pancreas Foundation (Bethesda, MD, US)

Overview:
PancreasFest is an annual meeting of pancreas physicians and translational researchers who convene during the last week of July to find new ways of working together to improve patient care. It is an umbrella conference that supports multiple smaller meetings with very focused goals.

Meeting Format:

Education programs

Discussion sessions for new ideas

Learning from other disciplines

Investigator meetings

Efforts to help young investigators explore and get started on their own projects

Primary Purpose:
To bring physicians and investigators together to conduct well-designed multicenter studies needed to advance understanding of the origin and progression of pancreatic diseases and to provide optimal treatments to patients as soon as possible.

Historical Background:
PancreasFest emerged from:

Annual meeting of the Midwest Multicenter Pancreatic Study Group

Annual investigators meeting of the North American Pancreatic Study Group

Leadership:
Led by academic physicians who are committed to working together for patients who desperately need both answers and cures.

Alignment with National Priorities:
Objectives align with the National Commission of Digestive Diseases (trans-NIH body established in 2005), specifically addressing:

Theme 2: Translate Fundamental New Knowledge for the Direct Benefit of Individuals

Theme 3: Develop Research Resources and Infrastructure

Theme 4: Maintain a Pipeline of Research Investigators for the Future

Key Goals:

Promote development, strengthening, and effectiveness of multi-disciplinary, multi-site, multi-center studies

Provide investigators with access to new or better methods, tools, resources, and infrastructures

Create environment for all members of pancreas community (academic, physician, government, patient, industry) to contribute

Provide thematic direction for physicians and scientists to develop novel mechanistic or therapeutic approaches

Support organizations or sites with inherent limitations in pancreas-related research

Provide education, mentorship, and integration of trainees and junior faculty

2025 Event:

Dates: July 24-25, 2025

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Typical Timing: Last week of July

Contact Information:

National Pancreas Foundation

3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700

Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone: 866.726.2737

Email: info@pancreasfoundation.org