I'm Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at the University of California, Los Angeles. It is a pleasure to be the Honorary Medical Chair for the 24th LA Cancer Challenge! The LACC helps the Hirshberg Foundation raise money to fund research and programs designed to improve patient care, offer better treatment options and, ultimately find a cure for pancreatic cancer. 

The UCLA Center for Human Nutrition and the Division of Clinical Nutrition are at the forefront – both locally and nationally — of building awareness of the impact nutrition has on a person’s health. The primary areas of research and clinical practice of the division are in the role of macronutrients, phytochemicals, and microbiome in the prevention and treatment of common forms of metabolic disease and cancer.

The Nutrition Oncology program allows nutrition physician specialists to work with patients who are receiving care from medical, surgical, and radiation oncology. We are striving to get the best nutrition plan relevant to individuals rather than public health interventions. Personalized nutrition, together with tailored activity and exercise, will empower the patients to get the most response from treatment with the least amount of side effects.

Please consider contributing towards my fundraising efforts. You can also join me, in-person or virtually, for a day of costumes and fun, remembering those we have lost and celebrating those who are currently battling this disease. Together, regardless of where we are, we can make a huge difference in the battle against pancreatic cancer.