WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two grants, awarded in 2017 by the United States arm of Israel Cancer Association, infused roughly $50,000 into cancer research, are causing change in the way scientists are viewing gene-predictors and their association with diagnosing and treating cancer.
The funding, utilized at two leading research institutions in Israel, has supported projects examining DNA and genes JUN and CCNE1 and their correlation to two of the most rampant cancers: Ovarian and Melanoma.
Each year, scientists at leading hospitals universities and institutions in Israel amongst the top in cancer research apply for research funding from Israel Cancer Association. After meticulous review by a committee, on average 34 of 40 research needs identified are infused with monetary, two-year-grant-awards from $11,000 - $26,000 per year.
Bruce S. Koppel, ICA USA Board President said, “Israel Cancer Association USA has touched the lives of thousands of cancer patients in Israel (and worldwide) by providing major funding to award winning Israeli cancer researchers. The future of cancer research is promising – particularly in Israel, where ICA USA funded scientists are recognized internationally as a formidable source of scientific innovation, breakthrough thinking, tireless determination, and skilled use of resources that have been the hallmark of Israeli science and technology for the last 70 years, and the purpose of ICA USA for the last 25 years. Cancer research in Israel can be done at a third to a quarter of the cost of like research in the United States. The science is stellar, and the results are striking. The scientists who receive this funding provide a personal summary of their research results directly to our donors.”
Recipients credited with the reported findings and supported by 2017 grant awards by Israel Cancer Association, include leading scientists from the Sheba Cancer Research Center, an affiliate of the Tel-Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine; and, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Medical School.
The American Cancer Society estimates for ovarian cancer in the United States for 2019 that approximately 22,530 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer, with around 13,980 women dying from the disease. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. According to national statistics, melanoma is the deadliest of skin cancers. Rates of diagnosis for the disease have increased dramatically over the past three decades, outpacing almost all other cancers. Today, it is one of the most common cancers found among young adults in the United States. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
ICA USA has thus-far funded 25 of the 41 grants seeking funding in 2019, including 5 breast-cancer focused research Fellowships at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Kaplan Medical Center, Sheba Medical Center, & Haifa University.
ABOUT ISRAEL CANCER ASSOCIATION USA
Since its inception in 1994, Israel Cancer Association USA’s mission has been to fund cancer research in Israel. We do this by directing fellowships to individual researchers at hospitals and research institutions throughout Israel. All applications for fellowships are merit-approved by prominent physicians and researchers in Israel. Every dollar that is donated to a fellowship goes directly to the researcher; ICA keeps nothing, no money is held-back.
ICA Headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida comprises the United States arm of Israel Cancer Association (ICA), the oldest, largest and leading health-related charitable organization in Israel. ICA is funded entirely by private contributions, without government support. Donors can be assured that 100% of donations go directly to the scientists for their subject, not the institution, nor for ICA USA’s overhead.
To learn more about Israel Cancer Association USA or to obtain information about one of the remaining 16 grants available for funding in 2019, contact (561)832-9277 or visit https://icausa.org
To learn more about the study on gene JUN conducted by Hebrew University Medical School, in Jerusalem, visit https://icausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Dr.-Eitan-Shaulian-2017.pdf
To learn more about the study on predictive biomarkers and treatment in ovarian cancer, visit: http://www.oncotarget.com/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path[]=19272&path[]=61671