Grants to Accelerate BRCA Mutation Gene Research
Press Release – Cary, NC [February 22, 2019] – The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a top-rated cancer research charity, together with the Goldberg Family Foundation and Gray Foundation are pleased to announce that they are jointly funding promising new research into treatments for BRCA cancers.
The grant, co-funded by these three groups, will be made to a team at the University of California, San Francisco’s Center for BRCA Research, and will support further research into PARP inhibitors – a promising area for treatment of BRCA cancers. The research will investigate strategies to enhance the effectiveness of PARP inhibitor therapy, including combining it with other treatments like cancer immunotherapy.
These Foundations have been partnering to co-fund select grants related to BRCA research since 2016, in addition to their own work on BRCA and other cancers. The Goldberg Family Foundation has recently entered into a long-term partnership with the V Foundation and together will raise essential funds through the BRCA initiative, with an initial goal of $5 million over five years.
“Our partnership with the V Foundation and the Gray Foundation has been a wild success and we are thrilled to continue it,” said Evan Goldberg, member of the V Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Moving forward, the focus of our energies will be supporting the BRCA initiative at the V Foundation in order to eliminate the threat of BRCA cancers.”
BRCA stands for BReast CAncer susceptibility gene. When functioning normally, these genes help the body prevent cancer. When the genes are mutated, they can become markers of higher risk for certain cancers. While BRCA gene mutations were first noted to cause higher rates of breast and ovarian cancer, research has found that the BRCA mutations can trigger a variety of cancers in women and men.
“We are delighted that the Goldberg Family Foundation has teamed up with the V Foundation to serve as a grant-making partner, and that the Gray Foundation is co-funding this important research,” said Susan Braun, CEO of the V Foundation.
“PARP inhibitors have proven benefit in treating cancers linked to BRCA1, BRCA2 and related genes” said Alan Ashworth, Ph.D., FRS, President of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We are immensely grateful to the three foundations for granting this award and helping us extend the range of patients that can be treated with these drugs and improve the duration of the responses.”
Evan Goldberg, a member of the V Foundation’s Board of Directors, and his wife Cindy launched the BRCA Foundation in 2016 to bring about new therapies, cures and preventative treatments for those carrying hereditary BRCA gene mutations. Over the years, the BRCA Foundation has awarded $15 million for BRCA research.
Mindy and Jon Gray established the Basser Center for BRCA at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center in 2012. The Basser Center was named in honor of Faith Basser, Mindy’s sister who died of ovarian cancer. The Grays have given more than $75 million to support the Basser Center, as well as to fund BRCA-related research at a number of other leading cancer institutions.
“We are thrilled to join with the V Foundation and Goldberg Family Foundation to co-fund this exciting research,” said Mindy and Jon Gray, founders of the Gray Foundation. “Each of our organizations has made great progress in advancing research and awareness of BRCA cancers, and by collaborating to fund promising projects like this, we hope we can bring even more attention and support to the area.”
The V Foundation has awarded more than $225 million for cutting-edge cancer research and awarded $9.5 million for BRCA related research. The V Foundation holds a 4-star (highest) rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of charities, and is among the top 3% of charities evaluated. The V Foundation is a GuideStar platinum-rated charity.
For more information about the V Foundation for Cancer Research and BRCA or to make a donation, please visit www.brca.jimmyv.org.
About the V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has funded more than $225 million in cancer research grants nationwide. The V Foundation awards 100% of direct donations to cancer research and programs. The V Foundation’s endowment covers administrative expenses. The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Committee. For more information on the V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.
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