Research
Every breakthrough starts as an unproven idea. The NationalPancreas Foundation (NPF) funds that idea — and the early-career investigatorbehind it — across every disease of the pancreas
For more than two decades, NPF has invested in pancreaticdisease research from two directions — funding the earliest science andtraining the physicians who carry it forward.
$50,000 or more over one year to help early-career investigators generate the pilot data they need to compete for majorfederal funding. Since 2010, NPF has:
▪ Funded 130+ projects totaling more than $5 million
▪ Supported researchers at 45 institutions nationwide
▪ Backed work across every disease of the pancreas, from cancerand pancreatitis to pediatric conditions
A 2.5-day live symposium pairing GI, pediatric, surgery, andoncology fellows with world-leading pancreas mentors.
▪ Now in its 21st year, shaping generations of pancreatologists
▪ Alumni have gone on to become faculty, Fellows Symposiumspeakers, NPF grant recipients, and NPF board members
NPF’s annual Request for Applications funds novel, early-stage research on any pancreatic disease, from cancer to acute, chronic, hereditary, and pediatric pancreatitis
Eligible Career Stage
Applicants must work at a U.S. institution and meet one of the following criteria:
Apply
For application details, please go here. (Pages 2-6)
Review
A scientific committee of pancreas disease clinicians and researchers evaluates each proposal for merit, innovation, and feasibility.
Award
The NPF Board of Directors approves final awardees, who receive funding for a one-year project period.
Report
Awardees submit a final report on their findings, publications, and any follow-on funding secured.
For any questions, please contact NPF Program Manager Carrie Anderson at carrie@pancreasfoundation.org.
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A follow-up survey of NPF Research Seed Grant recipients from 2010–2023 confirms what the awardee record already shows: this is a program built for leverage, not just funding.
of recipients said NPF funding led to a successful follow-on grant application
published peer-reviewed findings from their NPF-funded work
continued pancreas-related research after their NPF award
Dr. Melena Bellin (University of Minnesota) was funded in 2012 and 2017 to study endocrine function in chronic pancreatitis and outcomes after TPIAT. Today, she is a recognized leader in TPIAT and endocrine research, was named one of Minnesota Monthly’s 2025 Top Doctors, and has returned to help govern the Foundation.
The only nonprofit dedicated to all diseases of the pancreas — advancing research, education, and patient care.
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