Dr. Delitto Awarded NCI R37

May 7, 2026

Dr. Dan Delitto has received an R37 MERIT Award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for his research project, "Reprogramming inflammatory fibroblasts to overcome therapeutic resistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma PDAC."

"Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancers because it becomes surrounded by dense scar tissue that protects tumors from treatment and prevents the immune system from mounting an effective attack," said Delitto. "This project focuses on a special type of fibroblast within that scar tissue that responds to danger signals, creating intense inflammatory 'noise' that disrupts the body’s natural anticancer immune response."

PDAC is the most common form of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 90% of cases. In 2024, the 5-year overall survival rate for PDAC is under 10.8% for both metastatic and resectable cases. It is projected to become the second-leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030.

"By understanding how these fibroblasts develop and how they suppress antitumor T cells, this research aims to develop a new treatment strategy that restores immune function and improves the effectiveness of immunotherapy," said Delitto. "The long-term goal is to transform the tumor environment from one that shields cancer into one that enables the immune system to fight back more effectively."

According to their website, the NCI is using the MERIT Award "to provide longer-term grant support to Early Stage Investigators. The objective of the NCI's MERIT Award is to allow eligible investigators the opportunity to obtain up to seven years of support in two segments."

Related Stories

  • Exploring the Intersection of Surgery and Cancer Research with Dr. Dan Delitto
    – Surgery

    Exploring the Intersection of Surgery and Cancer Research with Dr. Dan Delitto

    Dr. Dan Delitto is an assistant professor of surgery at Stanford University specializes in surgical oncology and holds a PhD in immunology. On this episode, Dr. Delitto reflects on his decision to pursue an MD-PhD pathway during residency and discusses the recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing technology that his lab has acquired. He explains the complex role of fibroblasts in cancer development, particularly in pancreatic ductal carcinoma, highlighting how these cells can both promote and hinder tumor growth.

  • Dr. Delitto Receives Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award
    – Surgery

    Dr. Delitto Receives Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award

    Dr. Dan Delitto has received the Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award. Dr. Delitto will receive $600,000 over the course of three years to pursue novel immunotherapeutic approaches to fibrotic tumors, particularly pancreatic cancer.

Media Contact

Rachel Baker
Rachel Baker
Director of Communications
(650) 723-2301
rebaker@stanford.edu

Bio

As the Director of Communications for Stanford Surgery, Rachel Baker tells the stories of her department's faculty, staff, and trainees. With the help of an amazing team of content creators, she produces and curates original articles, photos, videos, graphics, and podcasts. She works with each division, center, program, and lab within her purview to define their audience and reach their goals while maintaining a consistent brand voice. She also offers both 1:1 and group education on a variety of topics including media training, using social media to advantage, and presentation refinement. Rachel holds a Bachelor's degree in journalism with a focus on photography from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Maryland.

About Stanford Surgery

The Stanford University Department of Surgery is dedicated to inventing the future of surgical care through:

• pioneering cutting-edge research, 
• developing the next generation of leaders, and 
• healing through incomparable surgical skills and compassion. 

To learn more, please visit surgery.stanford.edu

The Latest

About Us
Education
Patient Care
News
Research
Support