Sarcoma Foundation of America Announces New Grant Awards for Uterine Leiomyosarcoma Research

DAMASCUS, Md. – November 1, 2018 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), the leading organization dedicated to increased research and awareness for sarcoma, today announced two research grants awarded to projects focused on the study of uterine leiomyosarcoma.  Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare subtype of sarcoma, a cancer that occurs in soft tissue and bone.

Made possible by the generosity of the Dr. Richard and Valerie Aronsohn Memorial Fund, these awards support investigative efforts by leading sarcoma researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Stanford University. These research projects are eligible for renewal, potentially bringing the SFA’s overall investment in uterine leiomysarcoma research to $1.25 million over the next four years.

 

William Tap, MD and Sandra D’Angelo, MD

$250,000 Richard and Valerie Aronsohn Memorial Uterine Leiomyosarcoma Research Award

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

“Exploring novel immunotherapy combination strategies and identifying predictive biomarkers for patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma”

 

Matt van de Rijn, MD, PhD

$125,000 Richard and Valerie Aronsohn Memorial Uterine Leiomyosarcoma Research Award

Stanford University

“Liquid biopsy in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma”

 

“The Sarcoma Foundation of America is proud to lead this effort to support much needed research for uterine leiomyosarcoma and we are excited to collaborate with Drs. Tap, D’Angelo, and van de Rijn on their innovative projects,” said Richard Rumsey, CEO, Sarcoma Foundation of America. “This research helps fulfill the legacies of Dr. and Mrs. Aronsohn, who sought to find the cure for this devastating subtype of sarcoma.  We look forward to the opportunity to fund more work in uterine leiomyosarcoma through the Aronsohn’s memorial fund in the near future.”

 

These new awards bring the SFA’s 2018 investment in sarcoma research to more than $1 million since the beginning of the year. Since its inception, the SFA has provided nearly $8.5 million in sarcoma research through its national grant program and collaborative research projects. More information on SFA’s research program can be found at www.curesarcoma.org/research/.

 

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About the Sarcoma Foundation of America

The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, is an advocate for increased research to find new and better therapies with which to treat patients with sarcoma. The organization raises money to privately fund grants for sarcoma researchers and conducts education and advocacy efforts on behalf of sarcoma patients. For more information, please visit www.curesarcoma.org.

About Sarcoma

Sarcoma is a rare cancer in adults (1 percent of all adult cancers) but rather prevalent in children (about 20 percent of all childhood cancers). At any one time, 50,000 patients and their families are struggling with sarcoma. Every year, nearly 15,000 new cases are diagnosed and about 6,000 people die from the disease.

Contact Information

Lori Hoffman
(301) 253-8687