The non-profit organization will help fund fundamental, cutting-edge research in the fields of heart disease, health equity, ovarian and uterine cancer, and gynecological and obstetric care
CHICAGO, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Friends of Prentice (FOP), a nonprofit organization that works with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital to fund the future of women’s health, today announced its annual grant recipients. These five key research projects focus on heart disease, health equity, ovarian and uterine cancer, and gynecological and obstetric care. The funds provided by FOP will help advance this important research.
“A focus on women’s health has never been more important, and at Friends of Prentice we are committed to continuing to raise money for innovative health research,” he said Kristen Feld, Managing Director, Friends of Prentice. “This life-changing research will continue our mission at Friends of Prentice to improve the overall health of women of all ages and stages in life.”
The five selected projects represent a variety of disciplines and serve a wide spectrum of women. Recipients include:
- Metabolic Signatures and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes:
Pregnancy represents a state of significant psychosocial and metabolic stress that can contribute to preterm birth, preeclampsia, and other problems. Pregnant women of low socioeconomic status, exposed to multiple acute and chronic stressors, experience significant differences in these clinical outcomes. Metabolomics can provide new insights into biological mechanisms that link stress to these adverse outcomes, reveal biomarkers for their prediction and early detection, and identify key nodes to improve our approach to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant individuals with the largest risk . The main investigators include Stefanie FischerMD, MPH and Lynn M. Yee, MD, MPH. - Intermittent fasting after surgery for chemotherapy patients: The standard treatment for uterine and ovarian cancer is toxic and can have devastating side effects. Home chemotherapy drugs are often given to manage symptoms, but there are limited interventions to further help patients. Preliminary studies in cancer patients undergoing energy restriction during the period of chemotherapy suggest that dietary modification can positively impact side effects and toxicity, but the effect of fasting every other day after first-line chemotherapy has never been tested. This study will focus on the effects of intermittent fasting in patients undergoing treatment for advanced uterine and ovarian cancer. The chief investigator is Jenna Z Marcusmd
- Mobile interventions to prevent heart disease after pregnancy: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in The United States. People who develop high blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy are at higher risk of heart problems and abnormal heart ultrasounds in the first year after birth. Solutions are needed to improve postpartum cardiovascular health monitoring and optimize heart-healthy behaviors in these high-risk individuals. This study will test two complementary digital health interventions in women with high blood pressure in pregnancy – a Bluetooth-enabled remote monitoring program and a mobile lifestyle change application – with the aim of improving blood pressure and cardiac ultrasound one year after birth. The chief investigator is Priya M Freaneymd
- Uterine Drainage Curriculum to Improve Dilatation and Curettage: Surgical uterine drainage is a pillar of standard OB/GYN care. A large part of this skill acquisition occurs through abortion training. Currently, the status of access to safe abortion treatment is in The United States is debated. This FOP grant will fund the development of improvements in gynecologist training in uterine evacuation so physicians are better equipped to provide safe and equitable healthcare to women. The main investigators include Kerry CaputoMD, residents and Ashley Turnermd
- Effects of chemotherapy on DNA damage and repairs in ovarian cancer: Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, affecting nearly 20,000 women annually The United States. Standard treatment is grueling and includes harsh chemotherapy, surgery and other chemotherapy regimens with a high recurrence rate. By the time the cancer comes back, it has often developed resistance to chemotherapy. This study will examine how tumors develop this resistance in order to develop methods to overcome it or to change the treatment plan. Understanding the molecular changes that occur in ovarian cancer cells as a result of chemotherapy can identify new treatment strategies and improve outcomes and quality of life for women affected by this deadly disease. The chief investigator is Dario Roquemd
About Friends of Prentice
Since 1983, Friends of Prentice has grown up 20 million dollars and awarded annual grants to more than 100 innovative researchers and clinical programs. Projects covered women-specific areas such as gynecologic oncology, mental health, heart disease, inequalities in access to healthcare, diabetes, HIV, uterine and pelvic health, genetic biomarker research, home health care and more. Recipients have requested funding for research, education and patient care programs as they continue their quest to improve health care for women across all socioeconomic, racial and gender backgrounds.
For more information about Friends of Prentice or how you can get involved or support the organization, please visit www.friendsofprentice.org
Media contacts:
Megan Richards Martin
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Natalie Stanichuk
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SOURCE Friends of Prentice
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