Researchers awarded grants to pursue topics of interest in the field of gastric cancer
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF), a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds for stomach cancer, launched its third annual grant cycle totaling $200,000 in research awards for young fellows. These awards were presented to the winners on April 19, 2016 at the AACR Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their terms began on July 1, 2016.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411106
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411105
Dr. Elise Demitrack of the University of Michigan received the inaugural $150,000 Career Development Award. With this award, she will pursue her studies of mechanisms of Wnt activation in FAP gastric polyps and gastric cancer over the next two years. "Very little is known regarding the mechanism of gastric cancer development and progression, and with the Debbie's Dream Foundation-AACR Career Development Award for Gastric Cancer Research, I hope to discover how dysregulated pathways might be targeted for gastric cancer treatment," stated Dr. Demitrack.
Dr. Holly Martinson, of the University of Alaska Anchorage, received the $50,000 Young Fellowship Award. With this award, she will pursue discovering biomarkers for early detection and treatment of gastric cancer. "As an Alaskan receiving the Debbie's Dream Foundation-AACR Gastric Cancer Research Fellowship, I am truly honored to be a part of such an amazing community and family, and I am excited to work towards my long term goals of identifying alternative therapeutic targets for gastric cancer patients," said Dr. Martinson.
DDF was pleased to partner with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for the third year in a row for the opportunity to fund this important fellowship award. The DDF-AACR Gastric Cancer Fellowship represents a joint effort to encourage and support a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow to conduct gastric cancer research as well as to establish a successful career path in this field.
"Since 2013, Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer has awarded research grants totaling $350,000 in funding to talented, motivated scientists across the country, and we will be allocating another $300,000 in this upcoming grant cycle which will bring our grant funding to $650,000. We are thrilled to fund gastric cancer research," said DDF President and Founder Debbie Zelman. "With these grants, we are achieving our mission, and we are one step closer to our ultimate goal of making the cure for stomach cancer a reality."
About Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer
Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about stomach cancer, advancing funding for research, and providing education and support internationally to patients, families, and caregivers. Debbie's Dream Foundation seeks as its ultimate goal to make the cure for stomach cancer a reality.
DDF was founded in 2009 by Debbie Zelman after she was diagnosed with stage IV incurable stomach cancer in 2008 and given only weeks to live. DDF now has chapters throughout the United States, Canada, and Germany and a Medical Advisory Board of world renowned doctors. Considered a "Super Survivor," Debbie is still receiving chemotherapy eight and a half years later and is thrilled to be able to watch her three children grow up. To learn more about DDF, please visit us at www.DebbiesDream.org.
Media Contact:
Adriana Bates
Communications Coordinator
Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer
(954) 475-1200
Email
www.DebbiesDream.org