MINNEAPOLIS, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Virginia Piper Cancer Institute has joined the Pancreatic Cancer Research Team (PCRT), a multi-disciplinary group of preeminent researchers dedicated to organizing and accelerating the clinical development of new agents for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000407/ALLINAHCLOGO )
"We are pleased to join this multi-institution consortium dedicated to advancing care and research for pancreatic cancer," said Timothy D. Sielaff, MD, PhD, medical director of the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute and pancreatic surgeon. "Pancreatic cancer is a serious disease, but we believe that our membership in this dedicated team will offer our current and future patients many benefits. This collaboration also represents a new paradigm of academic medicine, bringing basic science and clinical strengths together to advance the field."
The PCRT specializes in using its knowledge and network to initiate clinical trials and allow patients immediate access to newly developed therapies. The group focuses on efforts to identify important questions in pancreatic cancer research, to develop novel therapies for the cure of pancreatic cancer and to design relevant clinical trials to answer these questions. The PCRT is found online at http://www.pcrt.org/ .
Approximately 30,700 cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. At the time of diagnosis, 80 percent of patients have locally advanced or advanced disease. The PCRT focuses on ways to improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients with pancreatic cancer, and to ultimately eradicate and cure the disease.
Founded in 1990, the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute offers patients the most current oncology care by combining state-of-the-art technology and access to clinical trials. Integrative medicine services are offered to patients through Abbott Northwestern's Institute for Health and Healing. The Institute's Piper Gastrointestinal Center provides comprehensive care for pancreatic, liver, esophageal, gastric, colon and rectal cancers. The Virginia Piper Cancer Institute delivers individualized care through disease-specific programs and specialized services, including clinical research, radiation oncology, a dedicated inpatient oncology unit, the Stem Cell Transplant Program, genetic counseling and the Cancer Laboratory.
Minneapolis-based Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care services. Abbott Northwestern is found online at http://www.abbottnorthwestern.com/ .
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000407/ALLINAHCLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comAbbott Northwestern HospitalCONTACT: Jennifer Syltie Johnson of Abbott Northwestern Hospital MediaRelations, +1-612-863-4801, +1-612-654-7488 (pager)