Timeline
2012
The OVIT consortium is established
2015
Stichting Overleven met Alvleesklierkanker is established
The Support Casper campaign is launched
2016
Partnership with Leiden University Medical Centre begins
Donations reach the first €1 million
Erasmus MC outpatient clinic opens
2017
Partnership with Amsterdam UMC begins
A NanoString system is purchased
Donations reach €5 million
2018
100 Casper Runners at the Rotterdam Marathon
The first Haven Charity Gala raises a record €1.3 million, including a generous gift from the De Roo family towards an Erasmus MC virus-production facility
A unique partnership enables construction of four ATMP units at Erasmus MC, creating Europe’s first academic virus-production facility of its kind
Funding is approved for the Tumour Immunology and Pathology Laboratory (TIP Lab) from 2019 to 2022
2019
Xander van Iperen launches Casper Runners: “Run, Connect and Collect” against pancreatic cancer
First patients treated with dendritic cell therapy
Funding is committed to the Strati-Vir project
The TIP Lab opens
2020
Support Casper marks its fifth anniversary
The COVID-19 pandemic forces the cancellation of fundraising activities and events
The first digital collection takes place during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
2021
The pandemic continues and many events cannot take place during the first half of the year
Support Casper organises a COVID-safe national activity challenge to fund pancreatic cancer research
The Support Casper anniversary gala on 9 October raises a record €1,197,960
2022
Aida Farshadi develops 3D organoid models from chemotherapy-resistant pancreatic tumour cells, making it faster and easier to test treatments without animals
Research by Dr Fleur van der Sijde provides insight into whether FOLFIRINOX, the chemotherapy most commonly used for pancreatic cancer, is likely to be effective. A follow-up study is launched to support more personalised treatment and spare patients from unnecessary intensive chemotherapy.
Support Casper and Stichting Eck Roosen organise the first Tour de Pancreas, with walkers and cyclists tackling Mont Ventoux
Donations pass €18 million
2023
The new ATMP production facility opens in September
The Support Casper Gala raises €1,002,000
On the first day of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Support Casper launches About Life with Pancreatic Cancer, a magazine about living with the disease, love, comfort and connection
Professor Casper van Eijck delivers his farewell symposium at Erasmus MC on 27 October and receives a royal honour from Health Minister Ernst Kuipers
2024
Erasmus MC introduces Dr Nigel Kooreman as Professor Casper van Eijck’s surgical successor; Kooreman also joins the ongoing research and becomes involved with the foundation
BNNVARA broadcasts Martijn Nijboer’s documentary Tegengif on 11 March, following Casper van Eijck’s work for his patients
The Journal of Clinical Oncology publishes encouraging findings from pancreatic cancer dendritic cell therapy
The fourth Tour de Pancreas raises €190,475
A KWF grant enables a follow-up study of dendritic cell therapy
2025
Nikki Born is introduced as the new ambassador of Support Casper.
De Westlandse Ride unveils a state-of-the-art flow cytometer at Erasmus MC
The fifth Tour de Pancreas raises a record sum of more than €275,000
Nearly 400 guests at Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk raise €1,101,550 during the Support Casper Gala
On World Pancreatic Cancer Day, Support Casper and Deltaplan Alvleesklierkanker hold a symposium on the latest research and announce their partnership.
Nature Communications, the world's leading multidisciplinary scientific journal, published the results of dendritic cell therapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer.