December 5, 2012 (Portland, Oregon) – Providence Cancer Center has been awarded a $450,000 Career Catalyst Research Grant by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, bringing the total number of Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer research grants in Oregon to 11, and totaling over $3.7 million. This funding was made possible, in part, because of funds the Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate has sent to Komen Headquarters’ for research.
This latest grant is Providence Cancer Center's third research grant; from Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This latest grant to Providence will investigate combination therapies for the treatment of HER2-positive Breast Cancer. Dr. Keith Bahjat will serve as the Principal Investigator with Fellow Dr. Jessica Shugart. Komen Oregon/SW Washington CEO, Thomas Bruner, states "With ten women dying from breast cancer each week in Oregon alone, the need to find the cures for this devastating disease is more pressing than ever. We are delighted to partner with Providence in our urgent mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever."
Hormone receptor status is a main factor in planning breast cancer treatment. Dr. Ali Conlin, a breast cancer specialist with Providence and a member of Komen's Medical Advisory Committee, notes "While the treatment of HER-2-positive breast cancer has had many exciting developments over the last year, there is still a great need for continued exploration into strategies to combine targeted agents with all the other tools we have at our disposal. This is work that will help get us another step closer to the cure! As Dr. Laurel Soot, Providence Regional Clinical Director of Breast Health, notes, "As federal funds from the National Institute of Health and other major government institutions have significantly declined, scientists at the Providence Cancer Center are facing a growing need for alternative funding sources. With this generous grant from Komen, we are able to conduct additional trials that will potentially improve the success of cancer treatment and positively impact the patient and their family. Year Investigator/Institution Amount
2012 Keith Bahjat, Providence Cancer Center $450,000 2011 Michael Gough, Providence Cancer Center $449,887.50 2010 Xiangshu Xiao, OHSU $599,996 2010 Megan Troxell, OHSU $449,850 2010 Lisa Domenico, OHSU $500,000 2009 Hong-Ming Hu, Yuhuan Li, Providence Cancer Center $180,000 2007 Rosalie Sears, OHSU $299,983 2006 Kerri Winters, OHSU $249,700 2002 Rosalie Sears, OHSU $250,000 2002 Stefan Lanker, OHSU $250,000 2002 Lee Rickords, OHSU $30,000 1999 Nancy Perrin, Portland State University $19,844 TOTAL $3,729,260.50
