Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor and Director of the UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, FACS, was awarded a $100,000 two-year grant from the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS).

The grant will fund his research project “Molecular Influences of Racial Disparities in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.”

Rose’s research project aims to determine the epigenetic differences contributing to the disparate outcomes seen in Black patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). His project will identify the key differences between the tumors from Black and White patients with pNETs with the goal to improve care in this understudied patient group.

NANETS is a society of over 400 multidisciplinary medical professionals committed to the support of the medical community in treating NET patients, as well as furthering NET science and education in North America.

“I’m honored that our project was selected,” said Rose. “Our entire team looks forward to furthering pNET research and understanding why Black patients often have more severe pNETs and a worse overall outcome. Ultimately, we need to uncover the ‘why’ to treat our patients more successfully and bring hope to those with pNETs.”