Stiftung zur Krebsvorbeugung^® awards nine new research grants

Feb 5, 2021

ZUR SOFORTIGEN VERÖFFENTLICHUNG
Kontakt: Lisa Berry Edwards
703-519-2107
Lisa.Edwards@preventcancer.org

Alexandria, VA—The Prevent Cancer Foundation is pleased to announce funding for nine scientists who are researching cancer prevention and early detection. Each scientist is being awarded $100,000 for two years. Areas of focus include the pancreas, esophagus, liver, lungs, skin, prostate, colon-rectum, and blood/bone marrow.

Here are the 2021 research grantees. Click here for more detailed information on their projects.

Grantee: Limor Appelbaum, M.D.
Named Award: Tolle Spiele schnell fertig
Position: Staff Scientist
Institution: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Projekttitel: Use of medical records and microbiome for predicting pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed in advanced stages when cure is no longer possible. Early detection of this cancer can lead to cure. Dr. Appelbaum proposes a model that can identify people at high risk of pancreatic cancer to be recommended for screening, which can potentially save lives.

Grantee: Julie A. Barta, M.D., A.T.S.F.
Named Award: Richard C. Devereaux Outstanding Young Investigator Award
Position: Assistant Professor of Medicine
Institution: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Application Title: Improving lung cancer screening barriers for vulnerable populations

Despite the advent of lung screening to identify cancers at early, curable stages, major disparities exist in screening uptake and adherence. This project will examine and alleviate financial and technological barriers for vulnerable populations to increase lung cancer early detection and survival rates.

Grantee: Neil Box, Ph.D.
Position: Associate Professor
Institution: University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus and Denver Campus, Denver, CO
Project Title: Integrating sun damage indicators in melanoma risk modeling

Dr. Box and his team will study how skin damaged by ultraviolet radiation can predict melanoma risk in children of certain genetic makeup. Their work will identify high-risk groups and prove the value of our tools in personalized melanoma prediction and prevention.

Grantee: Sigrid Carlsson, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.
Named Award: Tolle Spiele schnell fertig
Position: Assistant Attending Epidemiologist
Institution: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Application Title: Improving prostate cancer screening using innovative technology

Dr. Carlsson and her team developed an innovative computer technology to help primary care physicians use “smarter” screening for prostate cancer for men who are most likely to benefit. The aim of this study is to test the usefulness of this computerized decision support tool in a large primary care network.

Grantee: Margie Clapper, Ph.D.
Position: Deputy Scientific Director/Professor/Co-Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control Program
Institution: The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Project Title: Impact of atorvastatin with or without aspirin on colorectal biomarkers in patients with Lynch Syndrome: a pilot study

Lynch Syndrome (LS) is the most common genetic cause of colon cancer in people under age 50. Atorvastatin reduces colon microadenomas dramatically in mice. Understanding the effect of atorvastatin with or without aspirin on colon biomarkers is critical to developing a preventive therapy for LS patients.

Grantee: William Grady, M.D.
Named Award: The Shure Family Charitable Foundation
Position: Professor
Institution: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Project Title: Dysbiotic esophageal microbiomes and esophageal cancer risk

These studies have the potential to identify cancer-causing esophageal bacteria, which could lead to novel and improved ways to prevent cancer through more accurate cancer risk prediction. The studies could also lead to novel antibiotic or probiotic cancer prevention treatments for esophageal cancer.

Fellow: Natalia Heredia, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Position: AssistenzprofessorIn
Institution: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
Named Award: Marcia and Frank Carlucci Charitable Foundation
Project Title: Culturally tailored lifestyle intervention for Hispanic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The rate of new cases of liver cancer continues to increase in Hispanics, partially due to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Treatment for NAFLD includes weight loss, so by helping Hispanic NAFLD patients lose weight, we can prevent future cases of NAFLD-related liver cancer.

Grantee: Maro Ohanian, D.O.
Benannte Auszeichnung: Triad Foundation, LLC
Position: AssistenzprofessorIn
Institution: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Project Title: Detoxification of environmental metals to prevent acute myeloid leukemia

Toxic metals are a modifiable risk factor associated with increased cancer risk. Dr. Ohanian aims to reverse carcinogenic effects of environmental/occupational metal exposures that can lead to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by detoxifying metals in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (pre-leukemia) as a novel cancer prevention method.

Fellow: Aayushi Uberoi, Ph.D.
Named Award: Tolle Spiele schnell fertig
Position: Postdoctoral Scholar
Institution: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Project Title: Modulating skin microbiota-host interactions to prevent UV-induced skin cancer

While the skin microbiome encounters the same ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure as the skin, the effects of UVB on the skin microbiome is unexplored. By exploring host-microbiome interactions during UVB-associated skin cancers, we can uncover a novel class of biomarkers and therapeutics for prevention of skin cancer.

Über die Prevent Cancer Foundation^®

Die Stiftung Prevent Cancer^® feiert sein 35-jähriges Bestehen als einzige gemeinnützige Organisation in den USA, die sich ausschließlich auf die Rettung von Menschenleben in allen Bevölkerungsgruppen durch Krebsvorsorge und Früherkennung konzentriert. Durch Forschung, Aufklärung, Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Interessenvertretung haben wir unzähligen Menschen geholfen, eine Krebsdiagnose zu vermeiden oder ihren Krebs früh genug zu erkennen, um erfolgreich behandelt werden zu können.

Die Stiftung stellt sich der Herausforderung, die Zahl der Krebstoten bis 2035 um 401 TP3T zu senken. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, haben wir uns verpflichtet, 1 TP4T20 Millionen in innovative Technologien zur Krebsfrüherkennung und zur Verbesserung des Multi-Krebs-Screenings zu investieren, 1 TP4T10 Millionen in die Ausweitung des Zugangs zu Krebsscreenings und Impfungen auf medizinisch unterversorgte Gemeinden und 1 TP4T10 Millionen in die Aufklärung der Öffentlichkeit über Screening- und Impfmöglichkeiten.

Für weitere Informationen, besuchen Sie bitte www.preventcancer.org.