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research ACS research program funds ovarian cancer researcher in Indiana The American Cancer Society is the nation's largest private, not-for-profit source of funds for scientists studying cancer. By funding groundbreaking research, the American Cancer Society has contributed to many important discoveries that have led to a better understanding of cancer and cancer treatment. In the past 60 years, the Society has invested nearly $3 billion in cancer research and helped save millions of lives. The Society funds researchers in every area of cancer medicine, including ovarian cancer, which is the eighth most common cancer in women (not counting skin cancer). Ovarian cancer ranks fifth as the cause of cancer death in women and is the leading cause of death among gynecologic cancers. Ovarian cancer research has already led to better ways to detect high-risk genes and assess a woman's ovarian cancer risk. A better understanding of how genetic and hormonal factors interact may also lead to better ways to prevent and treat ovarian cancer. The Society is currently funding 56 grants dealing with ovarian cancer research. These grants total more than $27 million and four are going to researchers in Indiana and Michigan.
"It is well known among cancer researchers that the American Cancer Society has a wide platform of research funding," said Dr. Matei, whose preliminary work has shown that Gleevec, an anti-cancer agent, can stop the growth of ovarian cancer cells. Dr. Matei used her preliminary data to develop a grant, which was highly rated but did not receive funding. This did not deter her and she sought guidance and advice from an additional expert in the field to make her grant stronger. Her dedication paid off and she received a five-year grant after a second submission. Her team uses the funding to study the biology and treatment of ovarian cancer to determine if there is a more specific anti-cancer therapy for women with ovarian cancer. Dr. Matei hopes to find out how to block a growth receptor found in ovarian cancer cells so tumors will stop growing, and then apply this idea to a clinical trial in the future. "My research in the lab is very much complemented by my interest in clinical trials for ovarian cancer patients," said Dr. Matei, who is a practicing oncologist as well as a researcher. She runs the clinical trial program for ovarian cancer patients at Indiana University, and often gets samples from patients that are then analyzed in the lab. "It gives me balance and meaning to what I do, because I can see my laboratory findings translating into actual clinical questions and hopefully clinical applications." For more information on the Society's research program and funding, visit www.cancer.org/research. Pictured: Dr. Daniela E. Matei | |
Dr. Daniela E. Matei is one of the researchers in the Great Lakes Division whose work is being funded. Dr. Matei began studying gene expressions in ovarian cancer during her fellowship at UCLA, and has continued her work in that area as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Indiana University. |
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