CARY, NC (November 10, 2022) – The V Foundation for Cancer Research announces it has awarded nearly $27 million in cancer research grants during its 2022 fiscal year. Since its inception almost 30 years ago, the V Foundation has funded over $310 million through almost 1,200 grants. Grants are awarded through a competitive process strictly supervised by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee comprised of top leaders in the cancer research field, accepting submissions from researchers at the 71 NCI-designated cancer centers in the U.S. and other exceptional research institutions.
Accelerating Victory Over Cancer® through game-changing research is saving lives. The risk of death from cancer dropped by about 2% a year from 2015 to 2019 compared to 1% a year during the 1990s (source: American Cancer Society).
“It’s our honor to award the top researchers in the nation with grants that will change their careers and the treatment of cancer,” said V Foundation Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Susanna Greer. “Our vision is a future where all cancer diagnoses are early and are met with choice of treatments and outcomes of long-term survival.”
Here’s a breakdown of the 101 grants funded:
- 58 V Scholar Grants. These grants support talented young researchers who are just establishing their careers and provide a foundation towards securing additional funding as their careers progress. Nearly 500 such grants have been awarded since the V Foundation’s inception in 1993.
- 22 grants totaling over $6.5 million through the Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer which supports innovative research focused on childhood and adolescent cancers. The V Foundation has awarded over $66 million overall in pediatric cancer research grants.
- Nine research grants totaling $1.5 million were awarded through the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund in memory of the beloved ESPN sportscaster who passed away from cancer in 2015. The fund’s research focuses on racial disparities in cancer outcomes as well as general cancer research led by scientists from underrepresented groups.
- 18 Translational Grants, which focus on research that is most likely to quickly translate into treatments and often culminate in the initiation of a clinical trial. Two translational research projects that earn among the highest ratings identified by the Scientific Advisory Committee each year are awarded the Nick Valvano Translational Research Grant, in honor of Jim Valvano’s brother and former V Foundation CEO, and the Bob Bast Translational Research Grant, honoring the 20-year chair, and still a current member, of the committee. These awards went to Dr. Douglas Grossman at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, UT and Dr. Dipanjan Chowdhury at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA respectively.
The adult V Scholar research project that receives the highest rating by the Scientific Advisory Committee is annually designated as the Abeloff V Scholar. This award is in honor of the late Dr. Martin D. Abeloff, a beloved member of the Scientific Advisory Committee. In 2022, this honor went to Dr. Debattama Sen at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Sen’s research is focused on reducing the exhaustion of CAR-T cells, a new therapy where a patient’s own white blood cells are isolated, modified in a dish to better recognize their tumor, and infused back in.
“My husband was diagnosed with lymphoma when we were both in graduate school, and he was treated in the same institute that my PhD lab was based in Boston,” said Dr. Sen. “I recognize how lucky we both are that he has now been in remission for many years, and this further motivates me to research ways to make the same dream come true for all cancer patients and their loved ones.”
“As Jim Valvano said, ‘Don’t give up, don’t ever give up,’” said V Foundation CEO Shane Jacobson. “And we won’t until we achieve our goal of Victory Over Cancer®. V Foundation grants are accelerating cures and saving lives thanks to our generous donors and sponsors.”
The V Foundation holds 11 consecutive 4-star (highest) ratings from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of charities, making the foundation among the top 2% of all charities evaluated. The V Foundation is also a GuideStar platinum-rated charity. To learn more or to donate, please visit www.v.org.
About the V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator. The V Foundation has funded over $310 million in game-changing cancer research grants nationwide through a competitive process strictly supervised by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee. Because the V Foundation has an endowment to cover administrative expenses, 100% of direct donations is awarded to cancer research and programs. The V team is committed to accelerating Victory Over Cancer®. To learn more, visit v.org.
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Michael Susong
michaels@intrepidmg.com
760-681-3866
