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Ridin’ to a Cure - Grant Award History
 

• In 1999, a $25,000 grant supported the work of Joel Shilyansky, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, to develop a breast cancer vaccine.
• His research is based around the idea that the body’s immune response against cancer cells is weakened in cancer patients. A breast cancer vaccine could overcome this deficiency and restore the body’s ability to reject cancer cells.

• In 2001, a $75,000 grant supported two projects: one led by Christopher Chitambar, MD, Professor of Medicine and Hematology/Oncology, and the other by Sonia Sugg, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology.
• The objective of Dr. Chitambar’s research is to understand how iron and iron proteins promote abnormal cell growth that may lead to breast cancer.

• Dr. Sugg is involved in research to investigate how the timing of the Estrogen Receptor activation modulates normal mammary maturation and the development of mammary cancers. Dr. Sugg’s research attempts to determine susceptible periods for treatment in the prevention of breast cancer.


• In 2002, the Cancer Center received a $125,000 grant that again supported two research projects. One project was the work of Yoshiki Iwamoto, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery. Dr. Iwamoto’s research studies the process by which breast cancer tumors receive nutrients. The end goal of his work is the development of a curative therapy that would kill tumors by cutting off their blood supply.
• Funding received in 2002 was also used to further Dr. Joel Shilyansky’s work to develop breast cancer vaccine.

• In 2003, a $1 million grant established an endowed chair for Ann Nattinger, MD, MPH, Professor and Chief of General Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
  o An endowed chair is a powerful financial tool that provides secure, stable and predictable funding. The gift that establishes the chair is invested and remains untouched. Only the interest earned from the original gift is used by the researcher to further their work. Therefore, endowed chairs provide sustainable, on-going support for many years.

• Dr. Nattinger is also director of the College’s Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research and is nationally recognized for her work in breast cancer treatment, survivorship, and outcomes research.

• Some of Dr. Nattinger’s research projects include:

 

o Examining the relationship of surgeon volume and the 5-year outcomes of overall mortality and disease recurrence among women undergoing incident breast cancer surgery.
o Examining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of long-term hormonal adjuvant therapy among older women with incident breast cancer.
o Examining variations in care received by older women.

• Since the establishment of the endowed chair, a $100,000 grant was made to further support the work of Dr. Nattinger.