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.

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 Board of Directors

Eileen M. O’Reilly, M.D.

NPF Chair
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Thomas E. Birsic

NPF Vice Chair
K&L Gates

Chris E. Forsmark, M.D.

NPF Past Chair
University of Florida

Michael Farrell

NPF Treasurer
Willis Towers Watson

Patricia S. Birsic

NPF Co-Founder

Jane M. Holt

NPF Co-Founder

Thomas Holt Jr.

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

James M. Cain

Of Counsel, Eversheds Sutherland

Eric Golden

Fluential Partners, LLC

Yasmin G. Hernandez-Barco, M.D.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Calvin Kennedy

Associate General Counsel, Corporate for Envision Healthcare

Rajesh Keswani, M.D.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Anne H. Kruczek

Federated Hermes

Vikesh K. Singh, M.D.

Johns Hopkins Medicine

John Lieb II, M.D.

University of Florida

Christyn Taylor

Rebecca’s Wish

Ashok Saluja, PhD

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Aliye UC, M.D.

University of Iowa, Stead Family Department of Pediatrics

Ellen Vandenberg

New Leaf Literary & Media

Joseph M. Titlebaum

BlackLab Venture Studio

Diane Tonelli

Charles Vollmer, M.D.

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Kerry lord

SVP, Information Technology, Dragonfly Health

Our Partners

Abbvie
Alcresta Therapeutics
Arcus Biosciences
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Boston Scientific
ChiRhoClin, inc.
Fujifilm - Value from innovation
Immunovia, Inc.
IONIS Pharmaceuticals
K&L Gates
Nestle Health Science
Morgan's Wonderland Camp
Rebecca's Wish - Providing hope to children with pancreatitis
Revolution Medicines