Dr. Beth Y. Karlan Named Recipient of the Claudia Cohen Research Foundation Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Cancer Researcher 2015
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 29, 2015 -- The Claudia Cohen Research Foundation and the Foundation for Women’s Cancer announce today that Dr. Beth Y. Karlan has been selected as the 2015 recipient of the Claudia Cohen Research Foundation Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Researcher. The $50,000 prize is being presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology 46th Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer in Chicago.
Dr. Karlan is Director of the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Cancer Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She has devoted her career to understanding the root causes of ovarian cancer and finding new means to improve the lives of women with -- and at risk for -- this disease.
”Caring for women with gynecologic cancers inspires me to work tirelessly for clinical excellence and arouses my ever-present curiosity to unravel tumor biology in the laboratory,” said Dr. Karlan.
Dr. Karlan’s interest in ovarian cancer early detection led to the discovery of a novel biomarker, HE4, that is now FDA approved and in wide clinical use to help triage women with a pelvic mass and to help monitor women with ovarian cancer for possible recurrence.
This is the sixth annual prize from the Claudia Cohen Research Foundation which was formed in honor of Claudia Cohen, who lost her battle with uterine leiomyosarcoma in 2007. Ms. Cohen was a highly respected journalist and philanthropist. The Claudia Cohen Research Foundation was founded by Ms. Cohen's daughter Samantha Perelman, with her sisters Caleigh and Debra, to foster cutting edge research in gynecologic cancer.
Samantha Perelman said “The Claudia Cohen Research Foundation aims to champion scientific research to combat gynecologic cancer, and we are proud to celebrate the achievements of leading oncologists who continue to make a positive impact on the treatment of women. We hope that the work of accomplished researchers such as Dr. Karlan will ultimately save the lives of women and continue to inspire other researchers in the field.”
Each year more than 95,000 women will be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and almost 30,000 will die. Gynecologic cancers include cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers.
Dr. Karlan was one of two recipients of the first stimulus research grants awarded by the Foundation for Women’s Cancer in 1995. Since receiving her first grant, she has parlayed the original $50,000 award into more than $10,000,000 in peer reviewed research funding from NIH/NCI, DOD and the American Cancer Society. She also received the Foundation's 2008 Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Prize.
Dr. Karlan embodies the Foundation’s longtime strategy of supporting the career development of clinician-scientists who translate what is learned at the bedside into breakthrough science in the laboratory.
The Claudia Cohen Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Researcher is one of six prizes -- four ovarian cancer grants, one endometrial research grant and one gynecologic cancer grant -- announced during the SGO Annual Meeting. To see the Foundation's other 2015 grant and award winners, click here.
Since announcing its first grant in 1995, the Foundation for Women’s Cancer has awarded 120 research grants totaling more than $6 million. Its program targets promising young researchers who often receive their initial funding from the Foundation. The Foundation is grateful to the many families, individuals and corporate donors who give generously each year to support this important research endeavor.
“Our partnership with the Claudia Cohen Research Foundation allows us to recognize our most productive researchers and provide key support as they continue to explore critical questions about how to improve outcomes for women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer,” said Dr. David M. Gershenson, Chairman, Foundation for Women’s Cancer.
For more information about the Foundation for Women’s Cancer and the prevention, early detection and optimal treatment of gynecologic cancers, visit foundationforwomenscancer.org. For more information about the Claudia Cohen Research Foundation, visit claudiacohenfoundation.org.
About the Foundation for Women’s Cancer
The Foundation for Women’s Cancer, in concert with the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, is dedicated to expanding public awareness, education, research and training to improve the prevention, early detection and optimal treatment of gynecologic cancers. A national organization dedicated to the eradication of all reproductive cancers, the Foundation has provided more than $6 million in research funding since 1995, earning recognition from Worth Magazine as one of the nation's 100 best charities.
About the Claudia Cohen Research Foundation
The Claudia Cohen Research Foundation, established in 2009, is dedicated exclusively to support research leading to the treatment, control and prevention of gynecologic cancer with a special emphasis on gynecologic sarcoma. The mission of The Claudia Cohen Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Cancer Research is to champion the achievement of leaders in cutting-edge research by awarding an annual $50,000 prize.
Karen Bate, Foundation for Women's Cancer, http://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org, +1 703.402.2672, [email protected]
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