Triumph - 2013 Fall Winter - (Page 14)
Find Cures Advancements
Research
that Matters
Click to see a video on
Society-funded researcher
Mary-Claire King.
by SuSan newell
Society grants have supported Mary-Claire King's
groundbreaking work in genetics.
When Mary-Claire King, PhD, now an
American Cancer Society Research Professor
at the University of Washington, discovered the
genetic mutation that's responsible for 5-10%
of all breast cancers, the world was changed.
Women who had suspected a genetic cause
for the increased risk within their families
had an answer, and the scientific world was
enlightened to the link between genetics and
other cancers and diseases-leading to more
advancements in research.
King's two decades of work (1974-94) culminated in her discovery of BRCA1, the "inherited breast cancer gene." In 1995, the Society
encouraged her continued work by naming
her an American Cancer Society Research
Professor, a status made possible with an
endowment by the Walt Disney family.
"I was overwhelmed to be selected," says King.
"The funding has allowed me to strike out
in ways that are far more risky than federal
funding would permit. Private foundation
support, in general, celebrates risk-taking.
I think that's why I was selected in the first
place. And Society support has been an
important part of that."
King's recent work has focused on "inexpensive,
complete, accurate ways of finding and characterizing every mutation in every known breast
14
Triumph fall-winter 2013
cancer gene-now there are about 20-and
ensuring testing is available to women in
general." She adds, "I've been able to keep
going and it's been enormously successful;
we're saving tens of thousands of lives."
Beginning this past spring, moviegoers in
select theaters across the United States and
Canada could see how King's findings translate
to real lives via Decoding Annie Parker. The film
ties King's work to Parker's real-life experience
with BRCA1, which included the loss of her
mother and sister as well as her own diagnosis.
It's a dramatic, traumatic story, but one with
a glimmer of hope that conveys the nature of
research: "If we have learned anything in the
history of science in the Western world, it's
that science is immensely beneficial to solving
problems of health, but that does not happen
quickly," says King. "And research grants matter
enormously-we couldn't get anywhere
without donors.
"I think of Society grants the way I think
of money that I earn," continues King. "Every
dime, every dollar is accounted for, is used very
frugally and goes to research that matters."
For more on the types of research
being funded through Society grants,
visit cancer.org/research.
http://www.cancer.org/research
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Triumph - 2013 Fall Winter
Triumph - 2013 Fall Winter
Contents
Finish the Fight
Stay Well
Get Well
Find Cures
Fight Back
Share
Triumph - 2013 Fall Winter
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