The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers
The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers was established to accelerate innovation in cancer research for women, by women. Through a collaborative partnership with impact partner, Pelotonia, and scientific partner, American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), the fund was created to offer a series of grant programs for women researchers and clinicians working at various stages of their careers.
The grantees will be invited to join a unique network that participates in virtual and in-person engagement activities designed to foster communication and collaboration amongst all grant recipients.
With an initial commitment of 10 $M, this groundbreaking initiative will:
- Fund innovative research aimed at improving outcomes for women's cancers.
- Invest in the next generation of women scientists who represent the diverse population they serve.
- Inspire and educate millions of women around the world through cancer awareness, screening, and prevention campaigns.
Our Impact
Since launching in 2021, The Global Fund has invested more than 13 $ Million in research grants to progress prevention, detection and treatment methods for women’s cancers, led by women scientists working globally.
We're all-in on advancing the next generation of leaders in women's cancers research. To date, we have sponsored:
- 20 women's cancer researchers in various stages on their careers
- 150 women of all career stages to participate in an interactive development workshop to hone their professional skills at AACR’s Annual Meeting
- 20 high school-aged young women interested in cancer research to participate in a 2-week immersive lab experience, in partnership with the American Cancer Society
- 10 junior researchers to attend AACR’s Annual Meeting to present their work before the international research community
We’re thrilled to highlight these awardees below whose work is transforming cancer outcomes.
Career Development Awardees
Sarah E. Johnstone, MD, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Developing novel therapeutic approaches to gynecologic cancers.
Purna Joshi, PhD
The University of Texas at Dallas
Developing improved screening tools and effective
interventions to tackle obesity-associated breast cancer.
Mary M. Mullen, MD
Washington University in St. Louis
Combatting chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer.
Angelina Regua, PhD
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Identifying effective treatments for patients
with triple-negative breast
Ana Ruiz-Saenz, PhD
Center for Cooperative Research
in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE)
Improving the efficacy of treatments for
all breast cancer patients.
2023 Rising Innovator Grantees
Priscilla K. Brastianos, MD
The Mass General Cancer Center
Identify drivers of brain metastasis
from breast cancer.
Kemi M. Doll, MD, MCSR
University of Washington
Study the dissemination tool of biopsy-first
early detection of endometrial cancer.
Marleen Kok, MD, PhD
The Netherlands Cancer Institute
Study single cell analyses of immunotherapy
responses in triple negative breast cancer.
Joyce Liu, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Advance targeted therapies for high-grade
endometrial cancer.
Sandra S. McAllister, MD
The Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Eliminate age-and race-based disparities
in breast cancer outcomes.
2022 Career Development Awardees
Valentina Hoyos Velez, MD
Baylor College of Medicine Center for Cell and Gene Therapy
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Advancing the treatment of triple
negative breast cancer.
Martina McDermott, PhD
The Regents of the University of
California, Los Angeles
Develop a novel therapy designed to
target ovarian and endometrial cancers.
Chemtai Mungo, MD, MPH, FACOG
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Improving the prevention of cervical cancer
among women living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mya Roberson, PhD, MSPH
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill Gillings School of
Improving the genetic testing and treatment
trajectories for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers in black women.
Shuang Zhang, PhD
The Third Affiliated Hospital
of Guangzhou Medical University, China
Advancing the understanding of high-grade
serous ovarian cancer to improve treatment outcomes.
2022 Meritorious Awardees
Joan S. Brugge, PhD, FAACR
Professor of Cell Biology and Co-Director, Ludwig Center
Harvard Medical School
Reconnue pour ses recherches menées tout au long de sa carrière qui portent sur le déclenchement et la progression du cancer du sein, et sur la résistance aux traitements.
Susan M. Domchek, MD
Executive Director
Basser Center for BRCA
Adulée pour ses travaux sur les dépistages génétiques, les stratégies de réduction des risques et les thérapies ciblées relatives au cancer du sein.
Karen H. Lu, MD
Chair of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Parmi ses réalisations notables, nous devons souligner ses études sur le cancer de l'endomètre dans le syndrome de Lynch et sur la prévention des cancers de l'ovaire et de corps de l'utérus sporadique.
Lisa A. Newman, M.D., MPH
Chef, section de la chirurgie mammaire
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Elle a fait progresser de manière importante la compréhension de l'étiologie et du cancer du sein chez les femmes africaines et afro-américaines.
Martine J. Piccart, MD, PhD, FAACR
Honorary Professor of Oncology
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Scientifique respectée pour son leadership inégalé dans l'avancement des essais cliniques sur le cancer du sein et du développement de médicaments contre la maladie.