Dr. Simon Driver and Dr. Ajay Goel
“If successful, this panel would be
a unique, blood-based test, which
will have an optimal sensitivity and
specificity to be used for the early
detection of pancreatic cancer, and
it will be far superior than anything
that’s currently available in the clinic
today,” Dr. Goel said.
In addition to free-floating RNA in the
blood, Dr. Goel will be looking at free
molecules that were found to be
contained in small vesicles called
exosomes. Tumor cells release the
exosomes, and by extracting RNA
from them, the origin of the cancer
could be known. Dr. Goel and his team
are the first to explore this concept.
“Ideas and thoughts do not go far
without support,” Dr. Goel said. “The
seed funding is the sole reason we
were able to get exciting, early data
and use it to seek out a highly
competitive and prestigious larger
proposal from the National Cancer
Institute (NCI). The data was promising,
and the team and resources we
assembled for this proposal were so
compelling, that the NCI decided to
fund us.”
Only eight groups in the country
were awarded grants through this
funding mechanism. Each group
brings different types of knowledge,
and the team at BSWRI will be
working closely with other teams.
“I think we have a realistic chance of
developing a blood-based test to detect
pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Goel said.
9
A Long-Term Investment
Every contribution, large or small,
helps researchers gather data to
make an exponential impact for years
to come.
“This is about investing in someone
and giving them the time and
resources to make things happen,
which is exactly what these dollars
have afforded us to do,” Dr. Driver
said.
For more information about how
to support promising pilot research
projects at Baylor Scott & White
Health, contact Amy Monday at
214.820.4771 or Amy.Monday@
BSWHealth.org.
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