Munich Re Life US and the American Cancer Society Support Early-Stage Investigators at Leading Health Institutions

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Munich Re Life US is pleased to help fund two critical American Cancer Society (ACS) Research Scholar Grants that focus on increasing the survival rates amongst breast cancer patients. These grants, which aim to advance cutting-edge cancer research, include:

• Research targeting the dysregulated microenvironment in obesity and breast cancer conducted by Neil M. Iyengar, MD out of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY.
• Research on personalized medicine for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) conducted by Aditi Hazra, Ph.D., MPH, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.

Overweight and obesity affect more than two-thirds of Americans and are now leading modifiable lifestyle factors that increase the risk of cancer and cancer relapse. Dr. Iyengar is conducting a randomized control trial to determine whether a tailored diet and precision exercise intervention can improve obesity-related disturbances in the breast that can promote tumor growth. Directly modifying breast tissue biology through specialized diet and exercise is a new and promising strategy to reduce the risk of recurrence for many patients with breast cancer.

One out of every four breast cancers is non-invasive DCIS. However, not all DCIS are equally likely to progress to invasive cancer, and yet most women with this diagnosis are overtreated. Dr. Hazra will conduct a retrospective study designed to improve the stratification of subsequent invasive breast cancer risk among DCIS patients. This work may lead to personalized treatment and prevent DCIS progression to invasive breast cancer.

“Munich Re Life US is proud to support the ACS and the brilliant work of individuals like Dr. Iyengar and Dr. Hazra who are leading the next generation of cancer research,” said Marc Giguere, President & Chief Executive Officer, Munich Re US, Life & Health. “Within the field of insurance medicine, pioneering cancer research is critical to our company’s mission of expanding insurability and improving the life expectancy of people everywhere.”

“With partners like Munich Re, we can fund the most creative, innovative, and promising new ideas,” explained Bill Phelps, SVP for Extramural Discovery Research at the ACS. “Dr. Iyengar and Dr. Hazra have been carefully selected by the ACS as grant recipients because their research is trailblazing in the science community and will create a profound opportunity for us to save more lives from breast cancer in the future.”

Through its extramural research program, the ACS funds early-career investigators at the nation’s leading medical institutions whose research is at the forefront of science.

About Munich Re Life US

As one of the world’s leading life reinsurers, Munich Re Life US partners with insurance carriers to leverage smart and connected data, embrace new ideas and technologies, help carriers make confident decisions at speed and scale, and gain an exponential understanding of underlying risks. The company is well known in the industry as an innovation leader with extensive technical depth. Munich Re Life US’ optimized solutions and capital management expertise expand beyond market leading offerings in individual life reinsurance, group, individual disability and living benefits, to a global center for predictive analytics, automated underwriting, digital partnerships and standard-setting underwriting and medical capabilities. The company believes that the digital economy offers an unprecedented opportunity for the industry to rapidly advance risk assessment and help close the widening global underinsured gap.

Munich Re Life US, incorporated as Munich American Reassurance Company, is a subsidiary of Münchener Rückversicherungs- Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft in München (“Munich Re”), and earns high ratings for financial strength from A.M. Best Company. Munich Re Life US serves clients throughout the United States from its three locations in New York, Atlanta and Chicago.

About Munich Re

Munich Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. The group consists of the reinsurance and ERGO business segments, as well as the capital investment company MEAG. Munich Re is globally active and operates in all lines of the insurance business. Its tailor-made solutions and close proximity to its customers make Munich Re one of the world’s most sought-after risk partners for businesses, institutions, and private individuals.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is attacking cancer from every angle. The Society does not endorse any product or service. For more information go to www.cancer.org.