At Sky Foundation, we raise awareness and fund innovative research for the early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Through events, social media and unique public awareness opportunities we seek to educate and raise funding for pancreatic cancer research. We also stress the importance of genetic counseling for those with relatives who have had the disease.
Research
We raise funds and award seed-money grants to researchers working on promising pancreatic cancer research and medical treatment protocols. Sky’s Scientific Advisory Committee reviews research proposals and recommends to the Governing Board who should receive seed-money grants. A cohort of doctors and researchers are awarded grants each year; the initial seed grant given is $50,000. We require annual progress updates from those we fund in order to evaluate the appropriateness of future funding.
Sky Foundation grants help our researchers fill funding gaps that in turn enable them to develop their projects to a point where they can compete for and secure major funding from the National Institutes of Health and other funding sources.
Sky not only funds in Michigan, but nationally, coast-to-coast.
Awareness
At Sky, efforts to increase awareness for the early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer go hand-in-hand with fundraising to advance research.
With pancreatic cancer, recognizing even subtle changes in your body is critical, as is awareness of family history. We urge everyone to be proactive and aware of your body and symptoms that may be related to the pancreas.
Genetic counseling
We recommend genetic counseling as one important step in prevention for individuals who have a parent or sibling (first-tier relatives) or two or more grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins (second-tier relatives) with a history of pancreatic cancer.
Many health facilities in metropolitan areas have cancer genetics programs.
Because we are based in greater Detroit, we work closely with the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Health System, and the University of Michigan.
Awareness of family history and changes in your body are critical to your wellbeing. You can learn about genetic programs in your area by consulting your physician or referring to:
Click here to find a Genetic Counselor in Michigan
Outreach
On a local and regional level, we host special events and work with media partners, civic and other organizations interested in sharing information about pancreatic cancer. We also create educational videos – several of our videos employ humor to tackle what we know is a difficult subject. They’re available on YouTube.