FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANCAN FOUNDER RECEIVES PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD FROM AACR

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. U.S.A. (March 31, 2004) -- The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) presented Paula Kim, founder and president of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), with its 2004 Public Service Award at AACR's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. this past weekend. The annual award recognizes significant and lasting contributions to the fight against cancer by individuals and organizations working in the public arena. PanCAN is the first, national public-benefit advocacy organization for the pancreatic cancer community.

"You really deserve this award," said Margaret Foti, Ph. D., M.D., AACR Chief Executive Officer. "Your selfless and tireless efforts have built and sustained a powerful grassroots organization that has directed needed national attention to an underrepresented and highly lethal form of cancer. You are also being recognized for your highly effective and knowledgeable role as a patient advocate on national and regional committees and advisory boards. Your dedication, energy and wise counsel are inspiring to those involved in the field and have had a positive impact on advancing the cause of cancer research across all disciplines."

"This does PanCAN a tremendous honor by raising the visibility of our organization and the efforts of our team," said Kim, who founded PanCAN five years ago after she encountered a lack of support for pancreatic cancer patients and their families during her father's illness from the disease. "We're making progress with policy makers to make them aware of the need for additional investments in pancreatic cancer research as we advocate for pancreatic cancer patients and their families."

When Kim’s father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1997, she immediately began her quest for information and treatment for this very difficult cancer. To her dismay she found little information and very little support. During her father’s illness and after his death, she connected online with others who had similar concerns about the lack of resources for patients with this disease and their caregivers. She turned the ensuing discussion and ideas into action and in 1999, co-founded PanCAN as the first and only national non-profit patient-based advocacy organization for pancreatic cancer patients and their families. PanCAN’s mission focuses national attention on the need to find the cure for pancreatic cancer by providing public and professional education that embraces the urgent need for more research, effective treatments, prevention programs, and early detection methods.

From 1998 until 2001, Kim volunteered her time at PanCAN, helping to build the non-profit from the ground up. Thanks to her efforts, PanCAN is one of the most significant not-for-profit organizations for the pancreatic cancer community.

A tireless advocate, Kim has a long history of service involvement within the advocacy and research community, including service on: the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Board of Scientific Advisors; NCI Pancreatic Cancer Progress Review Group; Advocacy Representative to the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group and American College of Radiology Imaging Network; External Advisor to the NCI Gastrointestinal and Pancreas Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) of University of Nebraska Eppley Cancer Center; Arizona Cancer Center; MD Anderson Cancer Center; and the Food and Drug Administration Cancer Drug Development Patient Consultant Program. Kim actively participates with C-Change (Formerly the National Dialogue on Cancer); National Coalition for Cancer Research; One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC); National Pancreas Foundation; and Friends of Cancer Research.

About PanCAN
PanCAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by surviving family members of individuals who died of pancreatic cancer. Chartered as a grassroots organization of advocacy for pancreatic cancer patients and their families, PanCAN currently has volunteers and members throughout the United States and around the world. PanCAN is the first, national public-benefit advocacy organization for the pancreatic cancer community. The organization works to focus national attention on the need to find a cure for pancreatic cancer, and provides public and professional education embracing the urgent need for more research, effective treatments, prevention programs and early detection methods. Visit www.pancan.org to obtain more information, e-mail info@pancan.org, or call 1-877-272-6226.

About AACR
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research is a professional society of more than 22,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical scientists engaged in all areas of cancer research in the United States and in more than 60 other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of cancer through research, education, communication, and advocacy.

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Media Contacts:

Aaron Kiel
Public Relations Consultant for PanCAN
Phone: 562-983-8113
Email: akiel@akprgroup.com

Company Contacts:

Julie Fleshman
Executive Director, PanCAN
Phone: 310-725-0025
Email: jfleshman@pancan.org