The Kosten Foundation has announced it has approved $225,000 in pancreatic cancer research grants for 2026, marking the largest annual research investment in the organization’s history. The Memphis-based pancreatic cancer nonprofit will award $75,000 each to the University of Texas Southwestern, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and NYU School of Medicine to support innovative pancreatic cancer research programs.
“We are incredibly grateful to our donors and supporters who made it possible for us to award $225,000 in research grants this year,” said Alan Kosten, Chairman of the Kosten Foundation. “We take this responsibility very seriously. Supporting these outstanding research teams allows us to help accelerate progress toward earlier detection, more effective treatments, and ultimately better outcomes for patients facing pancreatic cancer.”
Since its founding in 2003, the Kosten Foundation has donated more than $3.2 million to pancreatic cancer research.
Summaries of the 2026 funded research programs:
University of Texas Southwestern
Researchers are collecting clinical data and tissue samples from individuals at increased risk for pancreatic cancer to improve diagnostic accuracy and support the development of more personalized treatment strategies.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Researchers are studying the effectiveness of a gene-based therapy designed to inhibit pancreatic tumor growth and increase the cancer’s vulnerability to chemotherapy.
NYU School of Medicine
Researchers are advancing methods to profile drug sensitivity using circulating tumor cell (CTC) cultures to better predict treatment response and disease progression, including advanced molecular analysis to identify aggressive pancreatic cancer cell populations.
The Kosten Foundation is actively interested in expanding its research partnerships. Medical research institutions and investigators focused on pancreatic cancer are encouraged to submit inquiries and research proposals for potential 2027 funding consideration. Organizations seeking more information about the Foundation’s research priorities and proposal process may visit www.KostenFoundation.com to submit inquiries or initiate a proposal conversation.