How You Can Help
Funds at Work
All Sprint for Life proceeds benefit M. D. Anderson's Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program. In addition to funding critical infrastructure expenses such as researcher salaries, lab supplies and equipment, Sprint for Life proceeds are also distributed as grants directly to investigators to support their research.
At the 2009 Sprint for Life Post Race Party, Kwong K. Wong, Ph.D., received a $50,000 grant to further his work to understand the molecular changes in cells that cause a rare ovarian cancer type low grade serous carcinoma.
Previous Sprint for Life Grant Recipients
- Bulent Ozpolat, M.D., Ph.D., received a grant to further his work in experimental therapeutics for ovarian cancer research. The award of $50,000 went toward his study of “Tumor-Targeting siRNA-Nanovectors for Novel Molecular Therapy of Metastatic Ovarian Cancer"
- Bryan Hennessy, M.D., in 2007, for using proteomics to find markers of chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer
- Michael Frumovitz, M.D., M.P.H., in 2006, for his study of quality of life in women receiving second-line chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer
- Robert Luo, M.D., Ph.D., in 2005, to evaluate tumor suppressor genes and apoptosis-independent autophagic cell death in ovarian cancer cells
- Lois Ramondetta, M.D., in 2004, to evaluate the role of spirituality in coping with and surviving ovarian cancer
- Judith Ann Smith, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCOP, in 2004, to evaluate possible ways to reverse drug resistance during treatment of ovarian cancer
- Anil Sood, M.D., in 2003, for continuing research on how the neuroendocrine system regulates growth factors in ovarian cancer patients
- Charlotte Sun, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., in 2003, to evaluate quality of life of patients receiving “high dose” chemotherapy for ovarian cancer
- Diane Bodurka, M.D., in 2002, to evaluate preferences of toxicities for ovarian cancer patients on chemotherapy
- Rosemarie Schmandt, Ph.D., in 2002, to study genetic alterations in a specific class of molecules known as kinases, that are frequently observed in the development of ovarian cancer tumors