The nonprofit Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer recently awarded $1.185 million in research grants for 2018 – a 10 percent increase from 2017 – to fund projects that will study ovarian cancer.
The grants were awarded to researchers from the United States, Italy, Australia and Israel, whose projects focus on topics including prevention and early detection of ovarian cancer, DNA repair, chemotherapy resistance, and innovative therapies, such as immunotherapy.
“The projects selected this year have tremendous potential to move the progress of ovarian cancer research forward, and help women live longer, healthier lives,” Joe White, executive director of the Rivkin Center, said in a press release.
Even though ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest gynecological cancers, research continues to be underfunded by federal agencies, when compared to other cancers. The Rivkin Center seeks to balance the status quo by helping to advance ovarian cancer research to improve early detection and discover new life-saving treatments.
Since its inception in 1996, the Rivkin Center has awarded more than $11 million in grants, making it one of the largest private funders of international ovarian cancer research. The center seeks to build bridges between scientists and physicians worldwide to work collaboratively at the forefront of ovarian cancer research.
One of the Rivkin Center’s most important achievements is the funding of a study that was the first to identify the signs and symptoms of the disease when none were believed to exist.
“If you’re an ovarian cancer researcher, you’ve leaned on the Rivkin Center to advance your research,” said Nadine Hempel of the Penn State College of Medicine, who was the 2017 Rivkin Center Pilot Study Grant Awardee. Of all 2018 awardees, 64 percent are women.
What is more, the Rivkin Center and the American Association for Cancer Research are holding the 12th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium Sept. 13-15 in Seattle, Washington.
The symposium is an opportunity for researchers to present their work and for attendees to learn more about ovarian cancer research and the latest updates and achievements of the scientific community in the field.
Physicians and healthcare professionals are eligible for continuing medical education (CME) credits for attending. Sessions will be centered on detection and prevention, genomics and molecular mechanisms, tumor microenvironment and immunology, and response and resistance to novel therapeutics. Special educational sessions will address current challenges in ovarian cancer and the role of advocates in research for the disease.
Additional information and registration is available here.