Grant Awards

How have we all helped to advance LMS research? Just look at what the patient community has funded with Leiomyosarcoma Support & Direct Research Foundation (LMSDR.) But we can’t stop until we have a cure! Help us raise funds for next year’s researchers. Please donate to Leiomyosarcoma Support & Direct Research Foundation.

$100.000 awarded to Dr. Joanna Przybyl (Stanford) for her 2-year project, “Metabolic Reprogramming in Leiomyosarcoma.” This study will identify drugs that will block sources of energy in cancer cells of three genetic subgroups of LMS.

$100,000 awarded to Dr. van de Rijn (Stanford) for his continued work to distinguish uLMS from benign fibroids by a blood test. “Using Circulating Tumor DNA as a Measure of Tumor Load and Response to Therapy.”

$47,000 awarded to Mathew Hemming MD PhD (Dana Farber) for his second year study of, “Exploring Leiomyosarcoma Functional Genomics to Identify Disease Specific Vulnerabilities.”

$140,000 awarded to Dr. van de Rijn (Stanford) for his continued work to distinguish uLMS from benign fibroids by a blood test. “Using Circulating Tumor DNA as a Measure of Tumor Load and Response to Therapy.”

$74,000 awarded to Tatiana Omelchenko PhD (Sloan Kettering) for her study, “Identification of a Novel Treatment Strategy for Uterine Leiomyosarcoma in Genotype Defined Patient Population.” She will generate a genetically engineered mouse model based on genetic alterations found in uLMS patients and to model tumor growth inhibition. The $74,000 grant for this project was gifted by the Kelly Kimball family.

$10,000 sponsorship given to Kyle Floyd for his documentary, “Kicking the Hornets Nest.” This two-hour movie documents the history of uterine morcellation and the consequences for women with leiomyosarcoma.

$40,000 awarded to Dr. Matt van de Rijn for his project titled: ROR2 and a Potential Target in Leiomyosarcoma.

$90,000 awarded to Dr. Matt van de Rijn (Stanford) for his continued work to distinguish uLMS from benign fibroids by a blood test. “Using Circulating Tumor DNA as a Measure of Tumor Load and Response to Therapy.”

$110,000 awarded to Dr. Matt van de Rijn (Stanford) for his continued work to distinguish uLMS from benign fibroids by a blood test. “Using Circulating Tumor DNA as a Measure of Tumor Load and Response to Therapy.” In addition, he also plans to study:

• Clinically Relevant Molecular Subtypes in Leiomyosarcoma
• A Role for Versican in the Development of Leiomyosarcoma
• Progressive Loss of Myogenic Differentiation in Leiomyosarcoma Has Prognostic Value

$50,000 awarded along with $100,000 from the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative to Dr. Matt van de Rijn (Stanford) for several LMS projects:

• The Study of Three Therapeutic Targets in Leiomyosarcoma
• Engineered SIRPa Variants as Immunotherapeutic Adjuvants to Anticancer Antibodies.
• Comparative Gene Expression Profiling of Benign and Malignant Lesions Reveals Candidate Therapeutic Compounds for Leiomyosarcoma

$50,000 awarded jointly by LMSDR and the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative to Dr. Matt van de Rijn (Stanford) for several LMS projects:

• ROR2 is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and a Potential Therapeutic Target in Leiomyosarcoma.
• The Effect of Mir-17-92 Dysregulation in Leiomyosarcoma-Genesis.
• Antibody Therapy Targeting the CD47 Protein is Effective in a Model of Aggressive Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma
• Flipping the Script on Macrophages in Leiomyosarcoma
• CFS1 Expression in Nongynological Leiomyosarcoma is Associated with Increased Tumor Angiogenesis

$25,000 awarded to Dr. Sandra Orsulic (Cedars Sinai) for her 2-year study, “A Role for BRCA1 in Uterine Leiomyosarcoma.”

LEIOMYOSARCOMA: What You Need to Know

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