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.

History Timeline
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