Catalyst Grant Recipients

Through the Hirshberg Foundation UCLA Catalyst Grant Program, we continue our longstanding commitment to advancing pancreatic cancer research by accelerating the path from discovery to patient impact.

Developed in partnership with the UCLA Agi Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic Diseases, the Catalyst Grant Program builds upon the success of our Seed Grant initiative by supporting projects that have demonstrated strong potential for clinical translation. These grants provide the critical resources needed to propel promising laboratory discoveries toward new therapies, improved diagnostics, and better patient outcomes.

We are proud to recognize the inaugural 2025 Catalyst Grant Recipients, whose innovative projects represent the next chapter in our mission to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

2025 Catalyst Grant Recipients

Evan Abt, PhDEvan Abt, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA
Leveraging T Cell Responses Unleashed by Adenosine-Targeting Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer
Jason Link, PhDJason Link, PhD
Associate Adjunct Professor, UCLA
Harnessing the Adaptive Immune Response from Patients with Effective, Natural PDAC Immunity
Roger Lo, MD, PhDRoger Lo, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Dermatology, UCLA
Linking Cellular and Genomic Mechanisms of Acquired Resistance to KRAS inhibition in PDAC