Sky Foundation created the Shine Like Sheila Award to honor the legacy of founder and pancreatic cancer survivor Sheila Kasselman, whose passion and perseverance continue to guide our mission. Sheila dedicated her life to raising awareness, supporting patients and families, and funding groundbreaking research. Her optimism and courage inspired everyone around her—she truly shined like the brightest star in the sky.

In her spirit of hope and unwavering determination, Sky Foundation proudly recognizes those who embody her values through this annual award.

This year, we were honored to present the Shine Like Sheila Award to Mark and Lori Wayne, two extraordinary volunteers whose generosity and enthusiasm have made a lasting impact on Sky’s work. After attending the Night Sky Gala for the past two years, Mark and Lori were deeply moved by the organization’s mission—and wasted no time getting involved.

What began as assisting with the silent auction quickly evolved into leading efforts for the live auction and joining the fundraising committee. They penned heartfelt letters to friends, family, and local businesses, rallying their community to support pancreatic cancer research and awareness. When an auction item proved difficult to secure, they personally visited donors, inspiring contributions through genuine passion and purpose.

Through creativity, connection, and perseverance, Mark and Lori helped curate one of the most exciting auction lineups to date—helping make this year’s gala a tremendous success.

Sky Foundation extends heartfelt congratulations to Mark and Lori Wayne for their well-deserved recognition. Their dedication truly embodies what it means to Shine Like Sheila.

Between the silent and the live auction – their efforts were able to garner in over $21,500 in donations, in addition to getting all of the items completely donated at no cost to Sky.  

At the Night Sky Gala, an unexpected medical emergency in the audience required us to pause the program. We’re deeply grateful the individual has recovered and is well.

Unfortunately, this meant that Lori Barczyk couldn’t finish her speech explaining how she has turned pain into purpose and hope. We invited her to share the rest of her journey here, and we’re honored to share her powerful message with you.

The Barczyk Family Legacy: LegaSea Aquarium

“After losing Brian in January 2024, I poured myself into the LegaSea Aquarium project; his dream; our legacy. It was a massive undertaking, and I worked tirelessly for 16 months, until April 14, 2025, when we opened the doors for our soft-open. I’m proud to say on October 4, 2025, we held our Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.

This Grand Opening marked an extraordinary milestone; a moment we had dreamed of for years. The ribbon cutting at LegaSea Aquarium was not just the opening of a new place; it was completing the toughest chapter of my life. One that challenged me to the core. The journey to this moment has been incredibly emotional, and one I couldn’t have made without the support of so many. But even with all the joy and relief, there was one thing missing…my husband and best friend.

Brian faced pancreatic cancer with courage, grace and an unbreakable spirit. Even in his final days, he was still dreaming, still thinking about others and still wondering how he could make a difference. Brian should not be gone. No one should have to lose their spouse, parent, child or friend to this devastating disease.

And yet, it’s happening every single day because pancreatic cancer is one of the most underfunded forms of cancer. That’s why funding for research matters; that’s why Sky Foundation matters. This is about changing the story for every person who will be diagnosed tomorrow, next month, next year. It’s about funding the research that leads to earlier detection, better treatments, and longer lives.

My ask of you now is the same it would have been the night of the Gala…to give with your whole heart. Give like lives depend on it, because they do. Be bold. Be generous. Be part of the movement that ends pancreatic cancer for good. Thank you.”

Lori Barczyk 

Night Sky Gala 2025

Sky Foundation is proud to highlight the success of a rising cancer researcher from the lab of Dr. Asfar Azmi at Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University. Husain Yar Khan, Ph.D. was awarded the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research AACR Scholar-in-Training Award at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting—an honor given to the top 5% of submitted abstracts.

His research focuses on innovative KRAS-targeting therapies, a promising frontier in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Under the mentorship of Dr. Azmi—whose lab received early seed funding from Sky Foundation—this work represents a vital step toward clinical breakthroughs that could improve outcomes for patients with KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer.

We are honored to have played a small part in helping advance research that is now being recognized on a global stage.

Read the full article here.

The Sky Foundation Inc. in Birmingham, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises awareness for pancreatic cancer and funds scientific research toward early detection testing and treatment, has named Annie Dalton as its executive director.

Dalton has served at Sky Foundation for nearly eight years as director of events and programs.

“Annie’s deep institutional knowledge of Sky Foundation, strong leadership skills, and close community connections make her an ideal choice to guide the organization,” says Shannon Crone, president of the foundation’s governing board. “Her experience will help advance our mission to fund research, raise awareness, and support those affected by pancreatic cancer.”

Dalton says her goals at Sky Foundation include expanding awareness of pancreatic cancer and early warning signs to the public at large, highlighting racial health disparities, and connecting with new corporate partners to help fund early detection testing and treatment.

“I am proud and energized as I step into my new role of executive director at Sky Foundation,” Dalton says. “Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest diseases to detect and defeat, but at Sky Foundation we’re not afraid to tackle the difficult. While my focus and commitment is on raising overall awareness, it is also to address health disparities and ultimately saving more lives. We’re reaching out to corporate partners and bold change makers who are ready to stand with us. Because behind every statistic is a life worth fighting for.”

Dalton is replacing Jody Skonieczny who is moving into a new position at an unrelated humanitarian nonprofit organization. Skonieczny joined Sky Foundation two years ago.

“Our board of directors is grateful for the excellent work of Skonieczny and we wish her the very best in her new position,” Crone says. “We are thankful that she is assisting in the smooth transition of leadership and know that she remains part of our Sky family. Our organization grew stronger because of her commitment over these years and we are set for even more success because of her exceptional work.”

Read the full article here.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and has one of the lowest survival rates—only 10% after five years. One of the factors contributing to its aggressiveness is its tumor microenvironment, known as the stroma, which makes up the majority of the tumor mass and consists of a network of proteins and different non-tumor cells. Among these, fibroblasts play a key role, helping tumor cells to grow and increasing their resistance to drugs.

Researchers have identified a key protein, YAP1, that plays a major role in driving the aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer. By using mouse models and organoids, the study revealed that YAP1 activates a gene network responsible for the fast growth and spread of tumors—especially in the squamous subtype of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for potential therapies that could target YAP1 to slow down or stop cancer progression.

Read the full article here.

LEGASEA Aquarium and Reptarium officially opens its doors on April 21, bringing to life the vision of the late Brian Barczyk—a beloved Metro Detroit educator and YouTuber passionate about wildlife and conservation. The 30,000-square-foot facility in Utica, Michigan features immersive exhibits and hands-on animal experiences designed to spark curiosity and connection with the natural world. LEGASEA is more than just an aquarium—it’s a tribute to Brian’s enduring legacy of education, inspiration, and love for animals.

Read the full article here.

We had the chance to visit LEGASEA Aquarium with the Macomb Chamber last week for a special sneak peek—and it was truly unbelievable. From the stunning exhibits to the hands-on time with reptiles, every moment was unforgettable.

LEGASEA was created in honor of Brian Barczyk, and his dream has come to life in the most powerful way. While we’re deeply saddened by Brian’s passing from pancreatic cancer, we’re inspired by the incredible work his wife, Lori, and the entire Reptarium team are doing to carry his legacy forward.

Immunovia announces positive outcome and strong accuracy in the clinical validation of its next-generation test for pancreatic cancer

LUND, Sweden, Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Immunovia (STO: IMMNOV), the pancreatic cancer diagnostics company, today announces the successful completion of the CLARITI study, (Clinical Validation of Next-Generation Test for Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer) to detect early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

One key finding was Immunovia’s next-generation test was equally accurate in detecting both stage 1 and stage 2 pancreatic cancers, reinforcing its strength as an early detection test. It is still very early, but provides hope for early detection of pancreatic cancer in a control sample of  participants who have a family history or are genetically exposed. Click here to read more.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden touts the Biden Cancer Moonshot Initiative, which aims to boost funding research and treatment to prevent cancer deaths and help those living with the disease.

The Cancer Moonshot initiative has two main goals: to prevent 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 and to improve the experience of people affected by cancer.

Since then, the initiative has announced collaborations with the private sector, among them an effort involving the country’s largest health insurers, who have committed to expand access to services to help patients and their families in the U.S. navigate cancer treatments or screenings and $100 million for cancer prevention and treatment in Africa.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 600,000 deaths annually, according to the Health and Human Services Department. A new cancer study found that male cancer cases are expected to rise by 53% globally from 2022 to 2050.

In particular, according to the American Cancer Society, for all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the five-year rate is 13%.  In recent years, the survival rates have increased due to innovative medical research. It is important to continue investing in research to meet Biden’s goals.

To read more, click here.

Congratulations to our very own Leigh Settemoir Ph.D., MBA, SPHR on receiving Oakland University’s Staff Excellence Award in Community Engagement.

Leigh is Assistant Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Oakland University, where she also teaches and conducts research in Human Resources and Higher Education Administration. Leigh plays such an integral part of Sky Foundation. Leigh joined the Board in June 2021, and currently serves as the Board’s liaison to Sky’s Scientific Advisory Committee. Leigh helps manage the annual seed grants evaluation, final awards, and distribution of funds to our researchers.

Leigh’s grandfather passed from pancreatic cancer with a diabetic precursor in 1995, and her father passed away from the same in 2009.  She approached Sky Foundation in order to support the early detection of cancer and to learn more about the warning signs to help the next generations.  She is always giving back to her community. We, at Sky, are thrilled she is a part of our community and celebrate her always. #pancreaticcancerresearch #communityengagement #oaklanduniversity

There is HOPE for new treatments after researchers find spread of disease is aided by shutting down of molecules in key genes.

Scientists have made a crucial DNA discovery that could help cure one of the deadliest cancers.

A team of researchers from the UK and US have found that pancreatic cancer is able to shut down molecules in one of the body’s most important genes, helping the disease to grow and spread rapidly.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, had announced a short time ago that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died on Friday, July 19th amid her battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 74.

Jackson Lee, represented Congressional District 18, a seat she has held for 30 years. In March, she defeated challenger Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Councilwoman, in the most competitive primary of her congressional career. Prior to the March primary, Jackson Lee had only drawn four primary challengers, and she defeated all of them by significant margins. She’s been in Congress since 1995.

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is higher in African Americans than in any other racial group in the United States. The age-adjusted incidence rate for Blacks is 15.9 per 100,000 people, while for Whites it is 13.4 per 100,000 people.

For more information, click here.

Kate’s, the Princess of Wales, diagnosis of cancer at the young age of 42 years has caught many by surprise, but it is part of a startling growing trend. A medical oncologist weighs in on the recent trend of more cancer being diagnosed in younger demographics.  It is part of a frightening trend of an uptick of cancer diagnoses for 50 year olds and under population that everyone needs to be aware of as they manage their own health. Please read the article below written by a medical oncologist for a more in depth look at the studies being done to determine why we are seeing this trend.

Early-onset cancer, which is defined as happening in adults under 50 years of age, is no anomaly. In fact, it is part of a rising global trend in which newly diagnosed cancer patients are getting younger. Further, it deflates the myth that cancer is the preserve of older people.

During the past week alone, I saw a 37-year-old with breast cancer that had already metastasized to her lymph nodes, bones, lung and liver. In the room next door was a 45-year-old with colon cancer that had spread so diffusely throughout the liver that it had become packed and enlarged with the tumors. Both patients had stage IV cancers that can potentially be controlled for a finite time but are no longer curable. Click here to read more.

Wayne State University and Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute researchers say a new federal grant will help them investigate genetic cancer risks in African Americans, and develop better screening and potential treatments for cancer in that population.

The five-year, $9.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health will fund study, called “Genetic Variation in Cancer Risk and Outcomes in African Americans.” It’s composed of three connected studies that will look at identifying cancer-linked genes, studying genetic risk factors for multiple cancers, and reducing barriers and improving access to genetic testing among African Americans.

Genetic profiles have proved increasingly vital for both cancer screening and targeted treatments. But African Americans have missed out on many of the benefits of genetic cancer research because they’re underrepresented in large genetic studies, according to Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, a professor of oncology at Wayne State Medical School and a co-lead investigator of the study. “So we know far less about genes which predispose African Americans to being diagnosed with cancer, or for poorer survival after they’re diagnosed,” she said.

One of the three studies covered by the grant aims “to better understand contributions from variants of uncertain clinical significance that occur in the high-risk African American population.” That means they’re looking for a “gene variant that may be pathogenic (cancer-causing),” but they “just don’t have enough information to determine that,” Beebe-Dimmer said. “And that, again, is sort of a byproduct of having far less representation of African Americans in genetic studies.”

A second study will look at patients with multiple types of cancer. By focusing on that high-risk population, “we are more likely to discover new cancer susceptibility genes,” Beebe-Dimmer said. The third study will examine ways to facilitate more African Americans getting genetic testing.

“We hope to be able to identify variants that can be used in clinical practice, so that you can identify people at high risk for either developing a second primary cancer, or having some variant that we can target for treatment,” said Dr. Ann Schwartz, Wayne State professor of oncology and the lead investigator for the study. “And that’s the goal here, is to really identify these high-risk populations so that clinically, we can move them through the system for prevention, screening, [and] targeted treatment.”

The study will leverage the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS), a large database of African Americans with various types of cancers. The researchers say they’ll use genetic profiles from that ongoing research to inform this study, as well as additional data.

Article written by Sarah Cweik on Michigan Public NPR website, found here. 

Selinexor Provides Hope

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute recently published a study investigating the molecular mechanism of action of Selinexor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and the tumor’s surrounding microenvironment. Sky’s funded researcher, Asfar Azmi, Ph.D., Molecular Therapeutics (MT) Research Program Leader and Pancreas Cancer Research Director at Karmanos, guided this study. It is titled “Molecular analysis of XPO1 inhibitor and gemcitabine-nab-paclitaxel combination in KPC pancreatic cancer mouse model,” published in Clinical and Translational Medicine in December 2023. Md. Hafiz Uddin, Ph.D., MT Research Program, was the first author.

Pancreatic cancer can be deadly because the tumor and the microenvironment work collectively to maintain growth and promote drug resistance, meaning most patients experience disease progression. Researchers at Karmanos have been studying the drug Selinexor for quite some time. Earlier studies from Dr. Azmi’s group showed that pancreatic cancer cells have excessive protein export signaling, causing the tumor suppressor proteins to mislocate leading to uncontrolled cell growth. Selinexor blocks nuclear protein transport to retain good proteins in the correct compartment of cancer cells, thus killing tumor cells.

We anticipate that these findings will help the enhanced use of Selinexor in tumors beyond pancreatic cancer, especially in cancers with dense stroma,” concluded Dr. Azmi.

Please click here to read more.

An officer in the U.S. Air Force was crowned Miss America on Sunday night. Second Lt. Madison Marsh is the first active-duty service member to win the annual competition, according to the Air Force. She has achieved incredible milestones at a young age and honored her mother along the way. Her mother lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2018. Madison has channeled her grief in a positive way by advocating for pancreatic cancer research and early detection.

And she’s not just talking the talk. According to Marsh’s Miss Colorado website, while a graduate intern at Harvard, Marsh is studying artificial intelligence and its role in detecting pancreatic cancer.

She is committed to making a difference like Sky and others to fight this disease. To read more, click here.

Pancreatic Cancer 5 year survival rate increases to 13% which means more hope. In terms of lives extended, this one percentage point increase is significant. It means 664 more loved ones will enjoy life’s moments five years after their pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The research in early detection is translating to improved survival rates.

American Cancer Society releases 2024 statistics. There is some good news, but some alarming statistics. The good news is research is helping prevent and diagnosis cancer. 4.1 millions fewer people will pass away from cancer in 2024. However, the cases will climb to startling levels. External factors such as lifestyle and social disparities are contributing factors.

Although U.S. cancer cases will eclipse 2 million for the first time this year, there is good news. Lower smoking rates, earlier detection and improved treatments have lowered death rates over the past three decades, a new report said.

The American Cancer Society’s annual cancer statistics report projects 611,720 cancer deaths this year, a slight increase from a year ago. The cancer death rate dropped 33% from 1991 through 2021, according to the most recent statistics available, the group said, due to cutting edge research and vaccination treatments.

But researchers are concerned about increasing rates of cancer in younger populations and the types of of cancer, including the pancreas. Click here to read more.