MIOCA Announces 2022 Geri Fournier Ovarian Cancer Research Grant Recipient

MIOCA recognizes that funding for ovarian cancer research is vital to promote new scientific advances in detection and improved treatment outcomes. Because there is still no early detection test and just 15% of ovarian cancer is diagnosed in early stages, research funding is an important piece of our mission.

Since 2014, MIOCA has provided $750,000 to researchers in Michigan who are finding new ways to improve the early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer. This award, named for MIOCA's co-founder, was created to recognize and provide funding for the critical research happening in the state.

MIOCA is pleased to announce our 2022 Geri Fournier Ovarian Cancer Research Award recipient is:

Dr. Gen Sheng Wu, Department of Oncology and Pathology at Wayne State University School of Medicine | "Targeting PARP inhibitor resistance in ovarian cancer"

Dr. Wu's research interest involves the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapies, with particular attention to breast and ovarian cancers. This project aims to understand the mechanism of resistance to PARP inhibitors. PARP inhibitors are currently used for treating patients with ovarian cancer but developing resistance to PARP inhibitors is a clinical problem. Dr. Wu plans to investigate how ATG5, a protein that mediates cellular substrate degradation, promotes PARP inhibitor resistance. Identifying the mechanism will provide a new strategy to improve the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

We look forward to learning the results of Dr. Wu's very important research.

Questions? Email info@mioca.org.