The Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care is a prime example of philanthropy’s catalytic impact on one of the most intractable problems in human health.
The center was established in 2013 with a $25 million investment from the philanthropic partnership of Norman and Linda Brenden and the Colson Family Foundation. This transformative gift enabled OHSU to create an ideal environment for the kind of cross-disciplinary team science required to make bold discoveries that lead to better treatments and greater hope for patients. Through additional support over the past nine years, including an additional $30 million in cumulative giving by the Brenden family, the center continues to advance knowledge, elevate the standard of care and enhance the quality of life for OHSU patients with pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis and the many complications that can accompany these diseases. Recently, the Brenden-Colson Center has leveraged this exceptional donor support to:
- Earn the National Pancreas Foundation’s designation as an Academic Center of Excellence in both pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer
- Refine a promising new blood test for the early detection of pancreatic cancer
- Participate in multisite clinical trials of new surgical procedures, precision treatments and early-detection methods.
- Recruit, support and train the next generation of clinical and research leaders in pancreatic disease
- Offer the latest, most advanced pancreatic disease treatments, including total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT)
- Leverage additional support from federal grants and research partnerships with private industry
