Ovar'coming Together Awards Research Grants
Spring 2007

Two Indiana researchers have been awarded a total of $30,000 in Ovar’coming Together research grants for 2007.  Dr. Daniela Matei, Indiana University Cancer Center, Indianapolis, is the recipient of a $20,000 research grant. Dr. Curt Balch, Indiana University, Bloomington, is a recipient of a $10,000 research grant.

Dr. Matei serves as an Assistant Professor at the IU Division of Oncology.  As a medical oncologist, she works in the research lab and also sees patients.  Her research experience enables her to keep abreast of possible clinical trials. Says Dr. Matei, “I am committed to taking this basic science from ‘bench to bedside.’”  Dr. Matei has studied the protein TG2, which is over-expressed in ovarian cancer cells and tumors.  Her experiments will demonstrate the role of TG2 in ovarian cancer metastasis and will lead to possible therapeutic interventions to limit the spread of IP tumors.

Dr. Balch, a research Assistant Professor in Indiana University’s Medical Sciences Program, has done prior research in inhibiting growth of ovarian cancer cells. Dr. Balch will use the Ovar’coming Together research grant to continue his study of strategies to avoid or reverse resistance to chemotherapy drugs and treatments.  An emerging theory of drug resistance supports the existence of a sub-group of malignant cells known as “cancer stem cells.”  Dr. Balch and his research group hope to target these stem cells using various inhibitors, in addition to assessing whether those treatments can sensitize resistant tumors to cisplatin.

Ovar’coming Together thanks these doctors for their hard work in the fight against ovarian cancer.

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