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Howard Crawford, PhD

Howard C. Crawford, PhD

Scientific Director, Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center | Chief Scientific Officer, Sky Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee

Overview

Dr. Howard Crawford is the Scientific Director of the Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center in Detroit, Michigan, and serves as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the Sky Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). His research focuses on how tumor cells and immune cells communicate to drive pancreatic cancer progression and on developing early-detection biomarkers for at-risk patients.

Leadership & Roles

  • Scientific Director – Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center (Henry Ford Health)
  • Professor – Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Internal Medicine, University of Michigan
  • Director – Pancreas Research Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Chief Scientific Officer – Sky Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)

Role within Sky Foundation

As CSO of Sky Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee, Dr. Crawford works closely with Sky’s leadership, staff, and partners to shape research priorities that advance the Foundation’s mission in early detection, education, and advocacy. He oversees the scientific review process, ensuring fairness, rigor, and alignment with Sky’s goals. After grant submissions close, Dr. Crawford coordinates with external reviewers so that each proposal receives multiple independent evaluations, with no reviewer from an applicant’s own institution. He leads the SAC’s in-depth deliberations to narrow six leading proposals down to three finalists, which are then presented to Sky’s Governing Board for final approval.

Sky Foundation-Funded Research

Project Title: Immune Responses in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer
Principal Investigator: Howard Crawford, PhD
Institution: University of Michigan / Henry Ford Health System

Project Summary

Supported by Sky Foundation, Dr. Crawford’s lab investigates the immune responses in patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer to identify early detection biomarkers that can distinguish between these conditions using a simple blood test.

  • Focuses on how risk factors, such as chronic pancreatitis, promote tumor initiation and progression.
  • Utilizes two advanced technologies to map immune-tumor interactions:
    • Technique 1 – CyTOF: Measures up to 30 cell-surface markers simultaneously, creating a detailed immune-cell signature from circulating blood.
    • Technique 2 – Single-Cell Sequencing: Analyzes gene expression of individual immune and tumor cells to reveal cellular communication networks.

Key Findings

  • Unique Immune Signature: Pancreatic cancer patients display a distinct immune-cell profile compared to normal and chronic pancreatitis patients.
  • Early Detection Potential: Longitudinal blood-sample testing of at-risk patients aims to detect emerging immune signatures that signal tumor formation before symptoms occur.
  • Novel Crosstalk Pathways: Single-cell data reveal new immune-suppressive communication channels between tumor and immune cells—potential therapeutic targets for immune reactivation.

Scientific Contributions

  • Leader in pancreatic tumor biology and immune microenvironment research.
  • Published extensively on cell signaling, inflammation, and early tumor initiation mechanisms in PDAC.
  • Advocates for multidisciplinary, translational approaches linking basic research and clinical discovery.

Selected Publications

  • Inflammation and the origins of pancreatic cancer – Trends in Cancer, 2022 (PubMed)
  • Immune cell crosstalk defines early pancreatic tumorigenesis – Gastroenterology, 2021 (PubMed)
  • Pancreatitis as a predisposing condition for pancreatic cancer – Annual Review of Pathology, 2020 (PubMed)

Recognition & Impact

  • Nationally recognized expert in pancreatic inflammation, immune-oncology, and tumor initiation.
  • Recipient of Sky Foundation Research Grant supporting discovery of early immune biomarkers.
  • Frequent keynote speaker and advisor for national pancreatic research initiatives.

Institutional Links