Mission and Goals

To fulfill its mission, the National Pancreas Foundation provides research grants on an annual basis that are made directly to researchers to provide ground-breaking research for pancreas disease. NPF is the only foundation dedicated to patients who are suffering from all forms of pancreas disease – pancreatic cancer, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, pediatric pancreatitis and FCS.

NPF and its Board of Directors and volunteers are committed to maximum efficiency with over $.93 cents of every dollar impacting patient programs and research, making NPF one of the most efficient charities in the United States. To achieve this, we rely heavily on the invaluable donations of time, energy, and financial support.

Research grant proposals from a wide variety of researchers are solicited. With the help of the Foundation’s Grant Review Committee, NPF makes grants to those whose proposals are most likely to lead to scientific advancements in the field of pancreatic disease.

Founded in 1997, the NPF has given over $5 million to fund over 130 ground-breaking research projects. The Foundation’s advocacy efforts have also been very effective, actively participating on the advisory council for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Cancer Institute Gastrointestinal Steering Committee, and as Department of Defense Consumer Reviewers.  Furthermore, NPF has supported initiatives that have led to millions of dollars of additional research funding by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and other institutions.

Mission Statement: The NPF provides hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer through cutting-edge research, advocating for new and better therapies, and providing support and education for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

History Timeline

1995

Co-founders Patter Birsic & Jane Holt meet and plant the seed

1997

NPF established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

2000

NPF awards our first research grants

2006

NPF attends annual Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to advocate for additional funds for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer research

2006

1st annual Fellows Symposium creating a training ground for new pancreas disease clinicians and researchers

2007

NPF hosts its first annual bowling event in Pittsburgh

2011

First NPF Chapters are established which has grown to over 25 Chapters throughout the United States

2013

Animated Pancreas created educating patients and caregivers through 14 modules with over 8 million views since inception

2014

NPF Patient Registry project started

2015

First 30 NPF Centers of Excellence announced

2017

NPF partners with Mission Cure

2017

Co-founder Jane Holt receives Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) Lifetime Achievement Award

2021

Co-founders Patter Birsic & Jane Holt receive Distinguished Service Award from American Pancreatic Association – highest national honor

2021

NPF/CAPER Visiting Fellows Program announced

2021

Black/African American Initiative launched to address health disparities, inequities and access to healthcare in this underserved population

2022

Visiting Fellows Program established with CAPER

2022

Camp Hope established – first pediatric pancreatitis camp in the United States

2022

Healthy Family Recipes Cookbook & Pocket Guide launch – over 10,000 views per month

2022

NPF Patient Registry launch creating the only patient registry in the United States for all forms of pancreas disease

2022

NPF Celebrates 25 years in impacting patients!

2023

Mental Health Initiative launched addressing positive mental health and coping skills while facing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer

Meet Our Team

Adriana Cowdin

Interim CEO/Executive Director

Sokphal Tun

Sokphal Tun

National Program Director

MORE ABOUT SOKPHAL
CATIE MCGILVARY

Catie McGilvray

Director of Compliance and Patient Registry

MORE ABOUT CATIE
Trish ONeill

Trish O’Neill

Director of Chapter Development

MORE ABOUT TRISH

Jamie Johnson

Director of Business Development

MORE ABOUT JAMIE

Carrie Anderson

National Program Manager

MORE ABOUT CARRIE

Meet Our Board of Directors

Chris E. Forsmark, M.D.

NPF Chair
University of Florida

Eileen M. O’Reilly, M.D.

NPF Vice Chair
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Dana K. Andersen, M.D.

NPF Immediate Past Chair
National Institutes of Health

Michael Farrell

NPF Treasurer
Willis Towers Watson

Dina Stults

Governance Chair
NIKE, Inc

Adriana Llames Cowdin

Secretary
Dekaf Digital

Patricia S. Birsic

NPF Co-Founder

Jane M. Holt

NPF Co-Founder

Thomas Holt Jr.

K&L Gates

Thomas E. Birsic

K&L Gates

Maisam Abu-El-Haija, M.D.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Melena D. Bellin, M.D.

University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital

Randall Brand, M.D.

UPMC Shadyside

Darwin L. Conwell, M.D.

University of Kentucky

Andres Gelrud, M.D.

Gastro Health

Jessica Gibson

Ariel Precision Medicine

Eric Golden

Fluential Partners, LLC

Jenny Jamison

Executive Director of Lake Area United Way

Anthony Joseph, Esq.

Masters Law Group, LLC

Rajesh Keswani, M.D.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Anne H. Kruczek

Federated Hermes

John Lieb II, M.D.

University of Florida

Elizabeth M. Loughlin

Community Volunteer

Andrew Lowy, M.D.

UC San Diego Health

Anne Phillips

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Ashok Saluja, PhD

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Vikesh K. Singh M.D.

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Christyn Taylor

Rebecca’s Wish

Joseph M. Titlebaum

BlackLab Venture Studio

Diane Tonelli

SALMON Health and Retirement

Aliye Uc

University of Iowa, Stead Family Department of Pediatrics

Ellen Vandenberg

New Leaf Literary & Media

Charles Vollmer, M.D.

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Barbara Washburn

NPF Atlanta Chapter Chair

Rebekah White

Moores Cancer Center

Mr. Lee Zeidman

3D Communications

Our Partners

Abbvie
AKCEA
American Pancreas Association
Ariel Precision Medicine
Black Health Matters
Boston Scientific
ChiRhoClin, inc.
Digestive Disease National Coalition
FCS Focus
The FCS Foundation
Immunovia, Inc.
IONIS Pharmaceuticals
John R. Lewis Legacy Institute
K&L Gates
Mental Health America
Mission: Cure
National Institute of Health
National Minority Health Association
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
novocure©
Personalized Medicine Coalition
The Painted Turtle
Rebecca's Wish
Sagent
SEQSTER
Morgan's Wonderland Camp