Colleen’s Dream Foundation Grants Over $20,000 to Cleveland Clinic for Ovarian Cancer Research

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Dr. Angela Ting

Raising awareness and promoting research are truly the most essential and powerful strategies to improve the management of ovarian cancer and to reduce suffering due to the disease. - Dr. Angela Ting.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) January 26, 2014

In its continuing effort to fight ovarian cancer, Colleen’s Dream Foundation has granted over $20,000 to Cleveland Clinic to fund ovarian cancer research being conducted by Dr. Angela H. Ting, according to Colleen’s Dream Foundation President Billy Cundiff.

"Working with Cleveland Clinic has been an amazing experience," says Cundiff. "We are excited to support Dr. Ting's research."

Dr. Ting, who is an Assistant Staff of Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, says her "scientific passion" is the study of epigenetics.

She says one of her goals for her work is to establish an epigenetic signature for chemo-resistance in ovarian cancer.

"Epigenetics is defined as modifications of DNA or chromatin that do not directly change the DNA sequence but can significantly influence gene expression and organizations of the genome," says Dr. Ting. "An "epigenetic signature" is a unique epigenetic pattern that distinguishes drug resistant ovarian cancers from those that are responsive to treatments."

She says the Colleen’s Dream Foundation grant will allow her to conduct follow up research -on earlier pilot studies- addressing this topic.

Go here to learn more about "epigenetic signatures."

"Raising awareness and promoting research are truly the most essential and powerful strategies to improve the management of ovarian cancer and to reduce suffering due to the disease. I feel very honored to be part of this effort and greatly admire the thoughtful generosity of Mr.Lanning and Mr.Cundiff to show their support through the Kicking for the Dream program."

Cundiff, who is the kicker for the Cleveland Browns, says the $20,000 grant money given to the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Ting was raised through Kicking For The Dream, and a Colleen’s Dream Foundation "grant match."

Kicking for the Dream is an online fundraising project Cundiff created to encourage both kicking specialists –at every level- and individuals -from anywhere in the world- to participate in fighting ovarian cancer.

Cundiff says that he, and Cleveland Browns punter Spencer Lanning, both created pledge pages on Kicking For The Dream in an effort to raise money for this grant. Together they raised over $10,000. He says he and Lanning agreed any money they raised should stay in Cleveland.

"Both Spencer and I agreed it was important the money we raised should be kept in Cleveland to help grow the talent at Cleveland Clinic," says Cundiff. "Cleveland Clinic is doing amazing work. And the ovarian cancer research they are conducting is very important in fighting this deadly disease."

Go here for more about Kicking For The Dream.

About Ovarian Cancer:

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as "the silent killer" because many women do not discover their disease until it is in the late stages, which leads to many women succumbing to the disease within a short period of time. Unlike cervical or breast cancer, ovarian cancer does not have a standardized early detection procedure. When it comes to women’s health, ovarian cancer proves to be one of the deadliest diseases.

About Colleen's Dream Foundation:

Colleen’s Dream Foundation started in 2012 and supports research for early detection and improved treatment for ovarian cancer. The story of Colleen’s Dream started in 2007 when Colleen Drury –Nicole Cundiff’ mother and Billy Cundiff’s mother-in-law- was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer. The family became aware of a new world that was filled with invasive surgery, harsh chemotherapy, and lots of uncertainty, and realized they needed to help others who were dealing with ovarian cancer.

Colleen’s Dream Foundation believes it is important to raise money for research that will lead to reliable early detection testing and improved treatment for ovarian cancer.

Because so little is known about ovarian cancer in proportion to other women’s health issues, there is an incredible opportunity for research and education.

Colleen's Dream Foundation is a qualified 501 (c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.

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