CLEVELAND, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) has named Vivian von Gruenigen, MD, gynecologic oncologist at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals of Cleveland, the winner of a “Young Investigator” research grant to study lifestyle change and quality of life among obese endometrial cancer survivors.
Affecting more than 40,000 women annually, endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and obesity is the largest risk factor for development of the disease. Dr. von Gruenigen will research the combined impact of exercise and dietary counseling on endometrial cancer survivors. Because most endometrial cancer patients are obese with increased risk of early mortality, an intervention in this group of women is optimal for cancer survivorship research to optimize health after cancer treatment. The grant is for $110,000.
“Obese women with endometrial cancer have a decreased quality of life and a significant risk of death,” says Dr. von Gruenigen, who is assistant professor of Ob/Gyn at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “Funding from the Lance Armstrong Foundation will enable us to design a nutrition and physical activity lifestyle intervention program to improve the quality of life of obese endometrial cancer survivors.”
The LAF is funding 20 research projects this year, worth a total of $3.3 million, an increase in support of more than $1.3 million over last year. The LAF funds research in two areas: cancer survivorship and the basic and clinical science of testicular cancer.
The LAF also awarded funding to several other research projects, including follow-up care for African-American breast cancer survivors, the impact of exercise on lymphoma survivors, the psychological late effects of cancer and the fertility of women following chemotherapy for early breast cancer.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with top-notch institutions and researchers in the early stages of their careers like Dr. von Gruenigen,” said Suzanne Kho, associate director of research for the LAF. “Though these scientists are exploring a variety of important topics, they all share a passion for helping people with cancer live strong.”
A group of 40 researchers and diverse cancer experts reviewed 150 grant applications last September. The LAF’s 2005 request for research funding proposals is posted on http://www.laf.org/ .
For more information or to enroll in the study, call the Ireland Cancer Center at 800-641-2422.
University Hospitals of Cleveland
CONTACT: Alicia Reale of University Hospitals of Cleveland,+1-216-844-3825
Web site: http://www.uhhs.com/http://www.laf.org/