Nearly $700,000 Awarded To Advance Gynecologic Cancer Research
Leeya Pinder, MD, MPH, recipient of the Nina Donnelley and The Dickens Fund of the Donnelley Foundation Young Investigator Award in Honor of Laurel W. Rice, MD, with David G. Mutch, MD, FACOG, Chair of the FWC.
CHICAGO, IL—On March 17, 2019, the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) awarded 14 research grants, research prizes and career development awards for a total of $692,500 during the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s (SGO) 50th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer in Honolulu, HI. This was the most awarded in a single year by the FWC—demonstrating the continued focus on and growth of gynecologic cancer research funding.
The FWC Research Grants and Awards program strives to accelerate the research of young investigators and promote the long-term success of the gynecologic oncology field.
“The grants provided by the Foundation for Women’s Cancer help fund innovative research that shows promise for significant breakthroughs, and foster the careers of young investigators and the next generation of skilled researchers dedicated to gynecologic cancer research,” said Anil K. Sood, MD, Chair of the FWC Research Grants and Awards Committee. “These individuals are crucial in advancing our field and the future of women at risk for, or affected by, gynecologic cancers.”
To date, more than $8.5 million has been awarded through 210 grants and awards. Many recipients choose careers as physician-scientists, publish research results in peer-reviewed publications and are able to leverage initial FWC grants or awards to attract additional funding.
The 2018-2019 FWC Research Grants and Awards program recipients are:
St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness Research Grant – $50,000
Kari Hacker, MD, PhD
Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health
Dynamic treatment changes in the ovarian cancer immune microenvironment
Laura Crandall Brown Foundation Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Research Grant – $50,000
Yael Raz Yana, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Distinct early changes in the fallopian tubes of BRCA mutation carriers
Ovarian Cancer Research Grant in Honor of Liza Chance – $50,000
Min Soon Cho, PhD, MS
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The role of platelets in the regulation of the immune response to ovarian cancer
Caring Together, NY, Ovarian Cancer Research Grant – $25,000
Dana Roque, MD
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Nanotechnology-assisted, mechanism-based combination therapy for ovarian cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis
Ovarinnovate: Ovarcome Research Excellence Award – $10,000/recipient
Heidi Chang, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
SOX17 as a master transcription factor in high grade serous ovarian cancer
Mary Mullen, MD
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
AXL and GAS6: innovative predictive biomarkers of chemoresponse and targets for the novel treatment of ovarian cancer
Wilma Williams Education and Clinical Research Award for Endometrial Cancer – $30,000
Christopher Tarney, MD, FACOG
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Validation of biomarker panel for the early detection of endometrial cancer
Endometrial Cancer Research Grant in Honor of Lynne Bovee Olson – $25,000
Vishal Chandra, PhD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Chemopreventive efficacy of SHetA2 in endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer: A novel preventive and conservative strategy
ME STRONG Cervical Cancer Research Grant – $25,000
Devin Miller, MD
Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Isolation of adipose-derived stromal cells and extracellular vesicles for mitigation of radiation injuries
Bruce Patsner Research Grant for Innovative Research and Technology – $10,000
Rebecca Stone, MD, MS
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Assessment of PD-L1 and immunoprofiling in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia
Clovis Oncology Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award – $67,500/year x 3 years
Akira Yokoi, MD, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Surveillance of response to PARP inhibitors using nuclear-derived exosomes
FWC Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award – $67,500/year x 3 years
Divya Iyer, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Exploring the role of CCAR2 as an antagonist of homologous recombination
Perlman Family CCARE Lynch Syndrome Research Prize – $1,500
Theofano Orfanelli, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Nina Donnelley and The Dickens Fund of the Donnelley Foundation Young Investigator Award in Honor of Laurel W. Rice, MD – $1,000
Leeya Pinder, MD, MPH
University of Washington
“The Foundation for Women’s Cancer continually receives outstanding research project applications, including the 116 completed submissions from this grant cycle,” Dr. Sood said. “This group of 14 awardees truly exemplifies the high quality of the program.”
Learn more about the FWC Research Grants and Awards program at foundationforwomenscancer.org/research.
###
About FWC
The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing research, education and awareness about gynecologic cancer risk, prevention, early detection and optimal treatment. The FWC is the official foundation of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO). Learn more at foundationforwomenscancer.org.
About SGO
The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) is the premier medical specialty society for health care professionals trained in the comprehensive management of gynecologic cancers. As a 501(c)(6) organization, the SGO contributes to the advancement of women’s cancer care by encouraging research, providing education, raising standards of practice, advocating for patients and members and collaborating with other domestic and international organizations. Learn more at sgo.org.
