The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has announced its 2008 research grants, which include a grant named in honor of Randy Pausch. He has helped the group lobby Congress for increased funding for pancreatic cancer research.

Nabeel Bardeesy of Massachusetts General Hospital is the first recipient of the Randy Pausch, PhD Pilot Grant. The two-year, $100,000 grant will support her research project, "Molecular Markers of Drug Sensitivity in Pancreatic Cancer."

"We are excited to announce the 2008 Research Grant Awards recipients and honor our dear friend, Dr. Randy Pausch," said Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. The group administers the grants in partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research. This year's grants total more than $1 million in new research funding.