Scientific Review Process

Pancreatic Cancer UK is delighted to have been accepted as a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities. This means that the charity's grant giving and scientific process has been rigorously reviewed by an independent expert body and found to be best practice in the field.

External Peer Review Process

All research applications to the charity are reviewed by a range of independent external experts in the field. Their recommendations are then assessed as part of a further review by the charity's Scientific Advisory Board.

Scientific Advisory Board 2010/11 (SAB)

The charity has a Scientific Advisory Board with a strong international membership to ensure that funds raised will be spent as effectively as possible.

The SAB has two co-chairs:

• Prof. Aldo Scarpa. Dipartimento di Patologia, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy (International Co-Chair)
• Professor Nick Lemoine, Director of the Barts Cancer Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London (UK Co-Chair)

A number of distinguished international experts in the field also serve as members of the Board:

• Prof James L. Abbruzzese. Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M, Houston, USA
• Prof Francisco X. Real. Programa de Patología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid, Spain
• Professor Andrew Biankin. Head of Pancreatic Cancer Research Group, Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
• Dr Akira Horii. Department of Molecular Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
• Professor Helmut Friess. Department of Surgery, Technische Universität München, Germany

As part of the scientific review process, the Board provides expert advice to the CEO and Trustees on:

• Development of the charity's research strategy and grant giving programme
• External referees for applications ('peer reviewers')
• Assessment of and final recommendations on applications

The SAB also provides advice and support for the charity on reporting and dissemination of research results.

Conflicts of Interest Policy

The charity has a rigorous policy on conflicts of interest in relation to both external peer reviewers and members of the SAB. Note that an important part of this policy is that the UK Co-Chair will withdraw from the entire research grants round if it includes any applications from members of his own research team.