Harnessing AI and Patient Data to Transform Pancreatic Cancer Research

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way cancer is studied and treated. At PanCAN, we’re combining AI with our SPARK platform, a secure, centralized system that integrates diverse health data contributed by patients through programs like Know Your Tumor® and Precision Promise℠.

SPARK houses clinical information, genetic and molecular data, tumor images, and even patient-reported outcomes, all de-identified and structured for scientific use. By analyzing these large, complex datasets, AI enables researchers to uncover patterns and insights more quickly, helping advance early detection, personalize therapies, and identify new avenues for treatment.

In this month’s Research Spotlight, PanCAN’s Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Dr. Anna Berkenblit, sits down with Chief Business Officer Sudheer Doss, PhD, to explore how SPARK and AI are driving discoveries in collaboration with academic and industry partners. These efforts are helping advance early detection, improve drug development, and create new tools that bring research insights closer to patients.

AI applications range from improving clinical trial design and streamlining drug development to analyzing imaging and pathology data for potential therapeutic insights. These collaborations are accelerating the translation of research findings from the lab to the clinic, bringing tangible benefits to patients faster than ever before. What makes SPARK especially transformative is its ability to unify information that was once siloed. By integrating genetic profiles, clinical records, pathology slides, and more, researchers can connect the dots in ways that were previously impossible. AI allows these massive datasets to be processed efficiently, revealing hidden insights that can guide research decisions and inform patient care. This collaborative ecosystem ensures that every contribution from patients and families drives meaningful progress in pancreatic cancer research.

Looking ahead, PanCAN plans to incorporate even more data from ongoing clinical trials into SPARK. This expansion will provide researchers with an even richer, more detailed picture of the disease, enabling new discoveries and fostering innovations in treatment, prevention, and early detection. By harnessing AI, SPARK, and the collective efforts of patients, families, and partners, PanCAN is creating powerful tools that bring hope and advance better outcomes for everyone affected by pancreatic cancer.

Read the full September Research Spotlight to learn more: https://pancan.org/news/research-spotlight-qa-with-pancans-chief-business-officer-sudheer-doss-phd/