Research

Laboratory Overview and Goals

Pancreatic cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and the incidence of this cancer is rising each year. The overarching goal of the Maitra Laboratory is to have a meaningful impact on the lives of people with pancreatic cancer through an improved understanding of the molecular underpinnings of this disease. We have pursued this goal by developing and studying new animal models that recapitulate pancreatic cancer in humans, as well as through innovative translational research conducted on patient-derived models and biospecimens. We are a firm proponent of “learning from every patient” and believe that translational research in this disease needs to have a clear line of sight to the clinic, especially given the urgency for making progress in improving patient outcomes.