VA IPA for Meng Shang

Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. Since the risk factors for pancreatic cancer - smoking, drinking, pancreatitis - are commonly seen in the VA population, there is also increased incidence of pancreatic cancer in VA patients. My lab is interested in the factors that contribute to pancreatic cancer development and also seeks to understand the resistant mechanisms that make this cancer a highly deadly cancer. Meng Sheng will be working on this VA-funded project to understand the role of proteins important in regulating expression of key cancer-causing genes in pancreatic cancer development and progression. This work will allow us to identify key factors in pancreatic cancer progression which one day could be targeted to increase survival of pancreatic cancer patients at the VA hospitals.