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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, PhD

The University of British Columbia

2022 Maxine & Julie Eisen Pilot Study Award

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Priyanka Verma, PhD

Washington University in St. Louis

2022 MCM Pilot Study Award

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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, 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, 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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When you donate to the Rivkin Center, you give hope to women and their families.

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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