ABOUT

Howard Crawford is the Scientific Director of the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Pancreatic Cancer Center. Dr. Crawford is a cancer biologist with more than two decades of experience studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive pancreatic cancer. His background combines rigorous basic-science training with leadership roles in large translational research programs focused on high-risk patients and tumor biology. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Cornell University and earned his Ph.D. in genetics and Development from the University of Texas Medical Center at Dallas. He completed his post-doctoral training in Cell Biology at Vanderbilt University. 

RESEARCH

The Crawford laboratory’s research centers on the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, with emphasis on how cancer cells and stromal and immune cells communicate to promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Their work focuses on signaling networks and cellular plasticity in pancreatic cancer, highlighting pathways that support therapy resistance and immune evasion. As scientific director of the center, he helps lead multi-institutional efforts and clinical–research collaborations to translate these mechanistic insights into biomarkers and immunomodulatory treatment strategies.