Download American Association for Cancer Research and Debbie`s Dream

For Immediate Release:
January 10, 2014
Media Contacts:
Lauren Riley
215-446-7155
[email protected]
Jenna Reed
954-475-1200
[email protected]
American Association for Cancer Research and Debbie’s Dream Foundation
Partner to Offer Gastric Cancer Research Fellowship
PHILADELPHIA — The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Debbie’s
Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF) are pleased to announce a new fellowship
opportunity in gastric cancer research.
The Debbie’s Dream Foundation-AACR Gastric Cancer Fellowship represents a joint effort to
encourage and support a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow to conduct gastric cancer
research and to establish a successful career path in this field. The proposed research may be
basic, translational, clinical, or epidemiological in nature and must have direct applicability and
relevance to gastric cancer.
Headquartered in Davie, Fla. and helping patients, families, and caregivers internationally, DDF
is the international leader in raising awareness, advancing funding for stomach cancer research,
and supporting those affected by all forms of stomach cancer through its many free programs.
“The overall five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with stomach cancer in the United
States is less than 30 percent, so the AACR is pleased to be partnering with Debbie’s Dream
Foundation to offer a fellowship in gastric cancer research,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D.
(h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. “We know that one reason the overall survival rate is
so low is that gastric cancer is predominantly diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it
extremely hard to treat. This new funding opportunity will help to foster new research and
accelerate progress against this disease, which is the third leading cause of cancer death
worldwide.”
“We are delighted to be collaborating with the AACR on this grant opportunity. This partnership
will allow the grant to be publicized to a larger audience, thus bringing the best and brightest
minds into the stomach cancer research field. Collaboration is one of the keys to advancing
American Association for Cancer Research and Debbie’s Dream Foundation Partner to Offer
Gastric Cancer Research Fellowship
Page 2 of 3
gastric cancer treatment options,” said Madelyn Herzfeld, DDF board member and DDF grant
committee chair.
“We have been working tirelessly to fund research indirectly through advocacy and we are
thrilled to now fund gastric cancer research directly,” said Debbie Zelman, president and founder
of DDF. “With this grant, we are achieving our mission and we are one step closer to our
ultimate goal of making the cure for stomach cancer a reality.”
The fellowship will provide $50,000 over a one-year term, which will begin July 1, 2014. The
recipient will formally accept the grant at the AACR Annual Meeting 2014, held April 5-9, in
San Diego, Calif. and attend the Debbie’s Dream Foundation Dream Makers Gala, April 26,
2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Interested investigators can click here for further details. Applications must be submitted by
noon ET, Jan. 15, using the proposalCENTRAL website. A hard copy with original signatures
must be mailed to the AACR at 615 Chestnut Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Attn:
Hanna Hopfinger. Additional inquiries may be directed to [email protected].
###
Follow us on Twitter: @AACR; @StomachCancer_
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.org;
https://www.facebook.com/DebbiesDreamFoundation
About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s oldest
and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to
prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational,
and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer
advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise
of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and
treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational
workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees.
In addition, the AACR publishes eight peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for
cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as
well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up
To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific
oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for
near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers
about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.
For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.
American Association for Cancer Research and Debbie’s Dream Foundation Partner to Offer
Gastric Cancer Research Fellowship
Page 3 of 3
About Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer
Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer 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. DDF seeks
as its ultimate goal to make the cure for stomach cancer a reality. Debbie Zelman founded DDF
in 2009 one year after being diagnosed with stage IV advanced, incurable, gastric cancer. When
she was diagnosed in 2008, Zelman was forty years old, married to a physician, the mother of
three young children, and a practicing attorney. Her chances of being alive in five years were
four percent. There were - and still are - few treatment options for this devastating disease and no
progress has been made in survival rates. Debbie’s Dream Foundation was the first stomach
cancer organization and now has 18 Chapters in the US and Canada, helps patients all over the
world through a free Patient Resource Education Program (PREP) and Mentor Program; hosts
free education events internationally; has a world renowned Medical Advisory Board; thousands
of supporters and volunteers; advocates for increased federal funding for stomach cancer
research; and directly funds research. For more information about DDF, visit
www.DebbiesDream.org.