Contributed Photo
Dr. Gil Mor, Dr. Elena Ratner, Dr. Dan Silasi, John Levy, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Dr. Peter Schwartz and Dr. Masoud Azodi.
Michelle Cole of Discovery to Cure sent in this report:
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro hosted nearly 100 guests at her East Rock home for a thank-you reception to honor supporters of Discovery to Cure at Yale School of Medicine, which advances the prevention, early detection and treatment of women’s reproductive cancers such as ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
Guests included cancer survivors, philanthropists, doctors and researchers from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine and Discovery to Cure’s corporate sponsors and major donors.
“As a survivor of ovarian cancer, whose life was saved by early detection, I know how important it is to fund research of this terrible disease,” shared DeLauro, who will soon reach 30 years as an ovarian cancer survivor. “I was diagnosed by luck, but nobody should have to survive by luck.”
DeLauro serves in the Democratic leadership as the ranking member on the Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where she oversees the United States’ investments in education, health, and employment. She also serves on the subcommittee responsible for the Food and Drug Administration and agriculture, where she oversees drug and food safety.
Dr. Gil Mor, Director of Reproductive Sciences in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine, introduced this year’s five grant recipients funded by Discovery to Cure. Each of the investigators provided an explanation of their research projects made possible by the support of Discovery to Cure donors. These projects included:
• Ayesha Alvero, M.D. – Enhanced Detection of Ovarian Cancer Micrometastasis for Optimal Surgical Debulking
• Yingqun Huang, Ph.D., M.D. – Genome-wide Analysis of Metformin-Induced DNA Methylation in Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Cells
• Elena Ratner, M.D. – Targeting AKT-Associated Angiogenesis to Enhance Triapine-Olaparib Combination Therapy for BRCA-wild type EOC
• Alessandro Santin, M.D. – Nanoparticles Complexed to Clostridium Perfringens Enterotoxin (CPE) Peptide for the Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer
• Xiao Xu, Ph.D. – Gynecologic Cancer in Women Undergoing Hysterectomy and Myomectomy for Benign Indications
“You have made a direct impact on women’s reproductive cancers by making this research possible,” said Dr. Peter Schwartz, section chief of gynecologic oncology in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine. “Thank you for your continued support and for bringing hope and strength to women diagnosed with these diseases.”
DeLauro also spoke to how donors are making a difference through the educational programs funded by Discovery to Cure. Future generations of scientists are being educated through Discovery to Cure’s internship programs for undergraduate and high school students. Additionally, Dr. Elena Ratner, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine, described how funds raised through Discovery to Cure are being utilized in the clinical care of patients by programs that aim to improve the quality of life for patients being treated for women’s reproductive cancers.
Upcoming events to benefit Discovery to Cure at Yale School of Medicine include the annual, signature fundraising event, the Discovery to Cure – Beverly Levy Walk, which is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, through the Yale University Campus. The event is named in honor of its founder Beverly Levy, a local woman who was fighting ovarian cancer when she launched the walk in 2013. The event continues in her memory to honor all women fighting and lost to these diseases.
This year the walk will feature three routes ranging from .8 miles to 2.3 miles, Yale tour guides providing information on points of interest, five local food trucks, as well as an opportunity to win prizes. Participant and team registration for the walk are now open (here) and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information about the walk, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 203 – 737-5225.