An exciting milestone for PRECEDE took place this month as a leading Portuguese research center announced they are joining the PRECEDE Consortium. The news emerged during the Botton-Champalimaud International Pancreatic Cancer Conference in Lisbon, where PRECEDE’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Diane Simeone, delivered a keynote address on what has become the world’s largest coordinated study focused on identifying pancreatic cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages.
This represents a significant step not only for Portugal but for Europe as a whole, strengthening PRECEDE’s presence across the continent and expanding its reach into regions with rising pancreatic cancer incidence.
The announcement generated local media coverage, including a feature in the Portuguese outlet Observador, which described Dr. Simeone and PRECEDE’s research efforts as the “largest study ever” against pancreatic cancer and emphasized the transformative potential of early detection.
Dr. Simeone has long been a global leader in pancreatic cancer research and clinical care. Her vision that early detection is the gateway to meaningful change has shaped PRECEDE’s design and its expansion across continents. During the conference, her keynote was introduced as one of the most important talks of the event, and the packed auditorium solidified that sentiment.
Her message resonated deeply: If survival rates are to change, research must scale.
Small, isolated studies cannot answer the big questions. Only a global, coordinated, community-driven effort can. Dr. Simeone often emphasizes that to change the survival curve, the field must move faster, from walking to running. The addition of Portugal, under the direction of Dr. Carlos Carvalho, brings PRECEDE one step closer to that goal, expanding the collective power of researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates worldwide.
