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Pilot Study Awards

Awardees

Each year we support multiple pilot studies with $75,000 each to pave the way for new avenues of ovarian cancer research and to expand our understanding of the disease.

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
    • Lori Brotto

    Lori Brotto, PhD

    The University of British Columbia
    2022 Maxine & Julie Eisen Pilot Study Award

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    Priyanka Verma

    Priyanka Verma, PhD

    Washington University in St. Louis
    2022 MCM Pilot Study Award

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    Hector Franco

    Hector Franco, PhD

    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    2022 Lester and Bernice Smith Pilot Study Award

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    Toni Antalis

    Toni Antalis, PhD

    University of Maryland Baltimore
    2022 Rosser Family Pilot Study Award

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    Weei-Chin Lin, MD, PhD

    Baylor College of Medicine

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    David George Huntsman, MD

    BC Cancer

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    Viola Heinzelmann-Schwarz, MD

    University Hospital Basel

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    Matjaz Barboric, PhD

    University of Helsinki
    2020 James A. Harting Pilot Study Award

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    Keith Knutson, PhD

    Mayo Clinic
    2020 Cookie Laughlin Pilot Study Award

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    Ilana Chefetz, PhD

    University of Minnesota Twin Cities
    2020 Lynda’s Fund Pilot Study Award

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    Joe Delaney, PhD

    Medical University of South Carolina

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    Hua Yu, PhD

    Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope
    2020 Karla Mooers Pilot Study Award

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    Matthew Wakefield, PhD

    The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    2020 Rosser Family Pilot Study Award

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    Cassian Yee, MD


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    Elizabeth Smith, PhD

    University of Miami

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    Daniela Matei, MD

    Indiana University

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    Robert Jaffe, MD

    University of California

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    Daniela Dinulescu, PhD

    Brigham and Women’s Hospital

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    Hong Zhang, PhD

    Fox Chase Cancer Center

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    Cassian Yee, MD


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    Jill Slack-Davis, PhD

    University of Virginia

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    Shu-Wing Ng, PhD, BSc

    Brigham and Women’s Hospital

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    Lainie Martin, MD

    Fox Chase Cancer Center

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    Fang-Tsyr Lin, MD, PhD

    University of Alabama at Birmingham

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    Victor Levenson, MD, PhD

    Rush University Medical Center

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    Patricia Kruk, PhD

    University of South Florida

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    Zhiyong Ding, PhD

    University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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    Mark Poznansky, MD, PhD

    Massachusetts General Hospital

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    Kwong-Kwok Wong, PhD

    University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

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    Jason Wilken, PhD

    Yale University

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    Terry Van Dyke, PhD and Vickie Bae-Jump, MD, PhD

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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    Toshi Taniguchi, MD, PhD

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

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    Alexander Nikitin, MD, PhD

    Cornell University

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    Mark Nachtigal, PhD

    University of Manitoba

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    Ilona Kryczek, PhD

    University of Michigan

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    Ingegerd Hellstrom, MD, PhD

    University of Washington

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    Mark Gavin, MD, PhD

    University of Minnesota

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    Faris Farassati, PhD, PharmD

    University of Minnesota

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    Heike Daldrup-Link, MD, PhD

    University of California San Francisco

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    Dusica Cvetkovic, MD

    Fox Chase Cancer Center

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    Henning Boldt, PhD

    Mayo Clinic

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    Xiaohong (Mary) Zhang, PhD

    University of South Florida

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    Elizabeth Swisher, MD

    University of Washington

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    Thomas Spies, PhD

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

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    Anna deFazio, BSc (Hons), PhD

    University of Sydney

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    Christine Messineo Annunziata, MD, PhD


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    M. Robyn Andersen, PhD


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    Andrew Wilson, PhD

    Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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    Andre Lieber, MD, PhD

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

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    Sandra Orsulic, PhD

    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

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    Stephen Howell, MD

    University of California San Diego

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    Xiaolong He, PhD

    University of Illinois

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    William Foulkes, PhD

    McGill University Health Center

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    Daniela Dinulescu, PhD

    Brigham and Women’s Hospital

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    Xuefang Cao, MD, PhD

    Roswell Park Cancer Institute

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    Resham Bhattacharya, PhD

    Mayo Clinic

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    Jian-Jun Wei, MD

    Northwestern University

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    Christine Walsh, MD

    Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

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    Barbara Vanderhyden, PhD


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    Kavita Shah, PhD


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    Janet Sawicki, PhD

    Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

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    Lupe Salazar, MD

    University of Washington

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    Carrie Rinker-Schaeffer, PhD

    University of Chicago

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    Daniel Powell, PhD

    University of Pennsylvania

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    Alexander Nikitin, MD, PhD

    Cornell University

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    Thuy-Vy Do, PhD

    Fox Chase Cancer Center

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    Daniela Dinulescu, PhD

    Brigham and Women’s Hospital

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    Karen Cowden Dahl, PhD

    Indiana University

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    Karen Abbott, PhD

    University of Georgia

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    Jeremy Stark, PhD

    Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope

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    Meera Nanjundan, PhD

    University of South Florida

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    Fang-Tsyr Lin, MD, PhD

    Baylor College of Medicine

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    Ilona Kryczek, PhD

    University of Michigan

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    Lavakumar Karyampudi, PhD

    Mayo Clinic

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    Shelley Hooks, PhD

    University of Georgia

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    Heidi Gray, MD

    University of Washington

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    Tyler Curiel, MD, MPH

    University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

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    Heather Cunliffe, PhD

    The Translational Genomics Research Institute

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    Matjaz Barboric, PhD

    University of Helsinki

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    Lin Zhang, MD

    University of Pennsylvania

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    Yunfei Wen, PhD

    University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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    Neveen Said, MD, PhD

    University of Virginia

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    Anirban Mitra, PhD

    Indiana University

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    Karen Lounsbury, PhD

    University of Vermont and State Agricultural College

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    Hani Gabra, PhD, FRCP

    Imperial College London

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    Hiu Wing Cheung, PhD

    Medical University of South Carolina

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    Dalibor Blazek, PhD

    Masaryk University

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    Matjaz Barboric, PhD

    University of Helsinki

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    Nuzhat Ahmed, PhD


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    Bin Zhang, MD, PhD

    Northwestern University

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    Kwong-Kwok Wong, PhD

    University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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    Steffan Nawrocki, PhD

    University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

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    Peter Kuhn, PhD

    University of Southern California

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    Mythreye Karthikeyan, PhD

    University of South Carolina

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    Stephen Howell, MD

    University of California San Diego

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    Carol Hanchette, PhD

    University of Louisville

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    Martin Cannon, PhD

    University of Arkansas for Medical Science

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    Tomer Shlomi, PhD

    Technion Research and Development Foundation

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    Lilie Lin, MD

    University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

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    Gokul Das, PhD, MPhil, MS

    Roswell Park Cancer Institute

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    Denise Connolly, PhD

    Fox Chase Cancer Center
    Pape Family Pilot Study Award

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    Andrew Wilson, PhD

    Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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    Varatharasa Thiviyanathan, PhD

    University of Texas Health Science Center Houston

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    Jill Slack-Davis, PhD

    University of Virginia

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    Erinn Rankin, PhD

    Stanford University
    Pape Family Pilot Study Award

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    Natasa Obermajer, PhD

    University of Pittsburgh

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    Iain McNeish, MD, PhD, FRCP

    University of Glasgow

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    Weei-Chin Lin, MD, PhD

    Baylor College of Medicine

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    Paul Goodfellow, MS, PhD

    Ohio State University

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    Andrea Facciabene, PhD

    University of Pennsylvania

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    Simon Chu, PhD

    Monash University

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    Ilana Chefetz, PhD

    University of Minnesota

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    Karen Belkic, MD, PhD

    Karolinska Institute

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    Fiona Yull, PhD

    Fiona Yull, D.Phil.

    Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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    Yunfei Wen, PhD

    University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

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    Carlos Telleria, PhD

    Carlos Telleria, PhD

    McGill University

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    Fiona Simpkins, MD

    Fiona Simpkins, MD

    University of Pennsylvania

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    Rosana Risques, PhD

    University of Washington
    Pape Family Pilot Study Award

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    Richard Moore, MD

    Richard Moore, MD

    University of Rochester

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    Geeta Mehta, PhD

    Geeta Mehta, PhD

    University of Michigan

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    Neil Johnson, PhD

    Neil Johnson, PhD

    Fox Chase Cancer Center

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    Nadine Hempel, PhD

    Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

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    Alan D. D'Andrea, M.D.

    Alan D’Andrea, MD

    Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

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    M. Robyn Andersen, MPH, PhD

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
    2017 James A. Harting Pilot Study Award

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    alice-soragni

    Alice Soragni, Ph.D.

    University of California Los Angeles
    Lynda's Fund Pilot Study Award

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    Gianpietro-Dotti-Rivkin-Grant

    Gianpietro Dotti, M.D.

    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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    Emanuela-Grassilli-Rivkin-Grant

    Emanuela Grassilli, Ph.D.

    University of Milano Bicocca

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    steven-jay-rivkin-grant

    Steven M Jay, Ph.D.

    University of Maryland College Park

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    shannon-hawkins-rivkin-grant

    Shannon Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

    Indiana University

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    Pamela-kreeger-rivkin-grant

    Pamela K Kreeger, Ph.D.

    University of Wisconsin – Madison

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    alvaro-monteiro-rivkin-grant

    Alvaro Monteiro, Ph.D.

    H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

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    John-Liao-Rivkin-Grant

    John Liao, M.D., Ph.D.

    University of Washington
    James A. Harting Pilot Study Award

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    susan-ramus-rivkin-grant

    Susan J Ramus, PhD

    The University of New South Wales

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    dan-peer-pilot-award

    Dan Peer, Ph.D.

    Tel Aviv University

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    Angela Russo, Ph.D

    University of Illinois
    Marlys Cheney Pilot Award

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    Hui Zong, PhD

    University of Virginia

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    Wa Xian, PhD

    University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

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    Amy Patrice Skubitz, PhD

    University of Minnesota Twin Cities
    Cookie Laughlin Pilot Study Award

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    Sachdev Sidhu, PhD

    University of Toronto

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    Keren Levanon, MD/PhD

    Sheba Fund for Health Service and Research

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    Christopher J. Kemp, PhD

    Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
    Seqouyah Electric Pilot Study Award

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    Adam R Karpf, PhD

    University of Nebraska Medical Center

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    Lana Kandalaft, PhD

    University Medical School Lausanne
    Dearborn Family Pilot Study Award

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    Cecil Han, PhD

    Georgetown University

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    Caroline Ford, PhD

    University of New South Wales
    James A. Harting Pilot Study Award

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    Pratip K Bhattacharya, PhD

    M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
    Rosser Family Pilot Study Award

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    Talk to your Family

    Talking to your family and identifying cancer in your family tree can be a good indicator of your health risks. Download our Family Tree Worksheet here.  Be sure to include yourself, children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

    Family Tree Worksheet

    Get Educated

    Know your body and be proactive about your health. Learn about your breast and ovarian health. Learn about the risk factors and signs & symptoms for breast and ovarian cancer.
    Learn about these types of cancer

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    Having a relationship with a health care provider you know and trust is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about your health care. Click here to find a provider
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    Higher Risk in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

    In the general population, around 1 in 400 people carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. People of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry have a 1 in 40 chance of carrying a BRCA mutation, making them 10 times as likely to carry a BRCA mutation as someone in the general population. Whether you’re a man or a woman, if you have a BRCA mutation then there is a 50% chance of passing the mutation on to your children, whether they are boys or girls. It’s important to note that these mutations significantly increase risk, but are not a guarantee a person will get cancer.

    Why is the Ashkenazi Jewish population at higher risk?

    Over 90% of the BRCA mutations found in the Jewish community are one of three “founder mutations”. A founder mutation is a specific gene mutation in a population that was founded by a small group of ancestors that were geographically or culturally isolated. Because the population was isolated, the rate of founder mutations in descendants is much higher than it would be if the population were larger and co-mingling with more genetically diverse populations. A large expansion in the population caused the current high frequency of the mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. If you are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, the chance of carrying a BRCA gene mutation compared to the general population is increased tenfold. BRCA mutations can be passed down from either your mother’s or father’s side, and may be associated with any of the following cancers:
    • Breast cancer
    • Ovarian cancer, fallopian tube, peritoneal cancer
    • Male breast cancer
    • Prostate cancer
    • Pancreatic cancer
    • Colon Cancer

    Ready to take action? Knowledge is power. Take this short quiz to be proactive about your health.

    Genes 101

    Our bodies are made of many tiny building blocks called cells. Our cells contain a copy of our genome – all of the DNA genetic code we inherited from our parents. Our genome is organized into 46 chromosomes, 23 inherited from mom and 23 from dad. Each chromosome has hundreds or thousands of genes. Each gene has the instructions to make a protein that may control the structure or function of cells, can determine many things including how tall we are or the color of our eyes. Genes also contain instructions for many things inside of us that we cannot see, such as how our bones are formed or how our heart works. Each gene is made up of molecules called nucleic acids (A, T, C, and G). The specific sequence of the nucleic acids holds the instructions that control all the components and their functions in cells.

    If the DNA sequence is changed, like a spelling mistake, the instructions may not make sense. The technical term for this change is “mutation,” meaning there is a change to the usual genetic code that may change the instructions stored in the gene. A mutation in a gene that repairs DNA damage or controls cell growth can increase the risk of developing cancer.

    Sporadic vs Hereditary Cancers:

    Ovarian and breast cancer can be either sporadic or hereditary. Sporadic cancers make up the vast majority (85-90%) of ovarian and breast cancers and are not associated with family history of either cancer or inherited cancer-associated mutations. Sporadic cancers arise from genetic mutations acquired in some cells of the body by events part of normal metabolism and environmental factors. This type of cancer can happen to anyone. Most acquired gene mutations are not shared among relatives or passed on to children.

    Hereditary (also known as inherited, or familial) cancers are those that occur due to genetic mutations that are inherited from mom or dad. Other blood relatives may also share these same gene mutations. Parents give one copy of each gene to their children. If a parent has a genetic mutation in a gene, each of their children have a 50% chance of inheriting that mutation. Therefore, even in families with hereditary cancer, not all family members inherit the mutation that is causing cancer, and their risk of cancer is similar to the average person in the general population. Individuals who are suspected to have a family history with high incidence of ovarian, breast, and other cancers may be offered genetic testing to try to find the specific genetic mutation that may put them at risk. Importantly, individuals who do not have a known genetic mutation but have high incidence of ovarian, breast, or other cancers in their families are still considered at higher risk for developing those cancers.

    Hereditary cancers often occur at an earlier age than the sporadic form of the same cancer, so experts often recommend starting cancer screening at a younger age for individuals at high risk for hereditary cancer. Hereditary cancers can also be more aggressive than the sporadic form of the same cancer. Individuals who have inherited a gene mutation may be at a higher risk for more than one type of cancer.

    BRCA 1 and BRCA 2: Most Common hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

    The genes that are most commonly involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) are BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes are named for their link to breast (BR) cancer (CA), but they are also linked to ovarian cancer risk as well as other cancers. Both women and men can inherit mutations in these HBOC genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes that have a usual role in our body of providing instructions on repairing DNA damage and preventing cancer. When a family has an inherited mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, this leads to an increase in cancer risk. Not every man or woman who has inherited a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene will develop cancer, but people who have a mutation do have a significanlty increased chance of developing cancer, particularly cancer of the breasts or ovaries.

    While breast and ovarian cancers are the most common cancers diagnosed in people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, the risk of some other cancers is also increased. Men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of early-onset prostate cancer than men without mutations in either gene. Other cancers seen at increased rates, particularly in individuals with BRCA2 mutations, include pancreatic cancer and melanoma. Researchers are continuing to find new genes that are involved in hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer so it is important to follow up with a genetic counselor on a regular basis if hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is likely in your family.

    Talk to your family about your health history and take the Assess Your Risk quiz here

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