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Our Mission
We are a research laboratory that combines basic, translation, and clinical research approaches to tackle pancreatic cancer. Specific areas of focus in the laboratory include modernizing early detection and diagnostics, dissecting the molecular mechanisms that drive progression and metastasis, defining mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, and developing new, more effective therapies for pancreatic cancer. Our lab was the first to identify and characterize pancreatic cancer stem cells, define heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer fibroblasts, identify the novel oncogene ATDC, and integrating single cell sequencing with spatial transcriptomics to investigate the dynamics of PDAC progression. Our lab has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1998.
Some of our recent research directions include combining single cell-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to study PDAC clonal heterogeneity and progression, utilizing advanced imaging technologies to study cancer cell signaling, interrogating BRCA2 in pancreatic cancer development, and integrating multimodal data for early detection of pancreatic cancer.
Our team is equipped with expertise across disciplines to deliver cutting-edge, evidence-based approaches in a personalized way to every patient as well as simultaneously supporting the basic science and translational research laboratories that study fundamental biological processes and new therapeutic approaches to understand and treat pancreatic cancer.
Meet Dr. Simeone
Dr. Simeone
Dr. Simeone
“Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies, with a dismal survival rate of nine percent and very few resources and tools to combat it. Both the incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer are increasing, and it is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States by 2030. The striking realization of the increasing incidence and mortality rates of pancreatic cancer requires a renewed resolve and vision to change the trajectory of the disease. Our research team, through innovative and ground-breaking work that spans from basic science discovery, molecular and translational studies, and clinical trials, seeks to work tirelessly to move from a 9% to a 50% survival rate for pancreatic cancer in the next 10 years.”
- Dr. Diane M. Simeone
Photos credit to: Jade Griffin, Kyle Dykes, and Yariela Freeman from the UCSD Public Relations and MCC communications team; Lisa at MCC
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