Our Scientific Advisory Board is composed of leading experts in the fight to cure pancreatic cancer – researchers and clinicians who are advancing science to save lives. This summer, we’re proud to highlight an exciting new chapter for longtime board member Dr. Anirban Maitra and share updated on the rising careers of two remarkable Seed Grant recipients from his lab, Dr. Fredrik Thege and Dr. Jimin Min.
Dr. Maitra will soon take the helm as Co-Director of a new GI Cancer Center and Associate Director of Translational Research at the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health. Pancreatic cancer is a type of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, so it’s often diagnosed and treated within specialized GI Cancer Centers that focus on cancers of the digestive system. His leadership in translational research has already shaped the careers of many young investigators, and his move marks an important step in building a premier GI cancer research program.
“After 12 wonderful years at MD Anderson Cancer Center, I will be starting a new position at NYU Langone Health in September,” Dr. Maitra shared. “I am excited to start the next chapter of the Maitra Lab in NYC and build a strong GI cancer research program. I am always so grateful for… the Foundation’s support for our trainees in Houston over the past 12 years.”
Dr. Maitra’s legacy of mentorship is exemplified by two members of his lab, both 2024 Seed Grant recipients.
Dr. Fredrik Thege, an instructor in the Maitra Lab at MD Anderson, has been working to understand the novel mechanisms in pancreatic cancer biology, and the Foundation’s early support helped advance his career. He shared, “Over the last six months, the Seed Grant from the Hirshberg Foundation has allowed me to kickstart my independent research program, and I am so grateful for [the] continued support.” 
Dr. Jimin Min will join Dr. Maitra at NYU where she plans to expand her work on aging and pancreatic cancer. Her research opens promising avenues for understanding how age-related biological factors influence disease progression and treatment response.As we celebrate 20 years of Seed Grant awards, it is more crucial than ever to move Beyond the Seed: Bridge to Breakthrough. Private research has enabled these ideas to bloom from seeds into progress. We must ensure that research doesn’t just begin, but that it continues, evolves, and reaches the patients who need it most.