Each year, more than 45,000 American lives are lost to pancreatic cancer—now the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with a five-year relative survival rate of 10 percent.

Recognizing the critical need for more research funding, the Lustgarten Foundation, the world’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, and the AACR have established two new career development awards for pancreatic cancer researchers. These awards—which honor the lives and legacies of two extraordinary Americans, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John R. Lewis—will help close the gap in the number of early-career women and underrepresented minority scientists receiving funding to conduct research leading to a better understanding of and treatment for pancreatic cancer.

This career development award has been established to honor the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg, who worked tirelessly to advance gender equality even while battling pancreatic cancer. This three-year, $300,000 grant is available to female scientists engaged in pancreatic cancer research.

This career development award has been established to honor the life and legacy of Representative Lewis, the civil rights icon and 17-term Georgia Congressman who worked to advance the civil rights of all Americans, even while battling pancreatic cancer. This three-year, $300,000 grant is available to members of racial or ethnic groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in the pancreatic cancer research workforce.