Research Partnership and Goals
Belles with Balls NL is proud to donate all proceeds to the Ovarian Cancer Research and Education (OCRE) Fund at Memorial University. The OCRE Fund provides assistance to researchers exploring the genetic markers that may impact Ovarian Cancer patients in Newfoundland and Labrador. As well, it hosts educational events for the general public with speakers from various professions including researchers, oncologists, gynecologists, a nurse, pharmacist, psychologist and Ovarian Cancer survivors.
Currently, there is no effective detection test for Ovarian Cancer which unfortunately results in most patients being diagnosed in late stages of the disease. By supporting OCRE, Belles with Balls NL hopes to further uncover the genetic component of Ovarian Cancer to create a better detection test.
Current Research
The Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University is currently researching Ovarian Cancer genetics through the Lynch Syndrome Lab. The Ovarian Cancer research team at Memorial is led by Dr. Lesa Dawson MD FRCSC and Dr. Darren O’Rielly PhD CCMG. Dr. Dawson is an Associate Professor at Memorial University and a Gynecologic Oncologist who specializes in cancer genetics and prevention. Dr. O’Rielly is the director of the molecular genetics laboratory at Memorial University.
Ovarian Cancer-specific Newfoundland-based research studies ongoing include:
- Evaluation of RAD51C genetic variant to discover a possible founder mutation in Newfoundland. This project is working with five large Newfoundland families with many ovarian cancers to find out if a particular rare change in this gene is responsible for the many breast and ovarian cancers.
- A project to see if the birth control pill lowers ovarian and endometrial cancer rates in women with Lynch Syndrome. Lynch syndrome carries very high rates of ovarian endometrial and colon cancer.
- A study to determine why almost one half of women with BRCA (Hereditary Breast Ovarian Syndrome) in Newfoundland are not getting breast cancer screening or ovarian surgery, despite clear evidence that these interventions are lifesaving
- A proposal to build an inherited cancer family registry that would assist mutation positive Newfoundlanders with prevention and screening and give them extra support.
- A project that studies ovarian cancer families who have inconclusive genetic testing results. This will be very complex molecular genetics analyses to figure out of changes seen in the genes are causing cancers in the family.
- A new imitative to review all new cases of ovarian cancer in the province and make sure that each woman gets appropriate genetic evaluation and testing.
- A laboratory project to review all cases of women in the province with ovarian cancer and carry out specialized tumor testing to see if they might be eligible for a brand new ovarian cancer drug (in pill form-not chemotherapy) that has just been approved in Canada.
Key Researchers
The Lynch Syndrome Lab consists of a very dedicated staff of professionals including Dr. Lesa Dawson and Dr. Darren O’Rielly who along with their colleagues, work on the projects listed above. To find out more about them please see the research team.
We would like to draw attention to Dr. Lesa Dawson and Kerri Smith who work closely with the Ovarian Cancer Research and Education (OCRE) fund and dedicate countless hours to the research projects.
Dr. Lesa Dawson, MD FRCSC
(please click the image for bio)
Journal of community genetics Research article
Kimberly Burke . Lesa Dawson . Kathleen Hodgkinson . Brenda J. Wilson . Holly Etchegary
Check out the latest article published in the Journal of Community Genetics by Kimberly Burke, Lesa Dawson, Kathleen Hodgkinson, Brenda J. Wilson, and Holly Etchegary: Exploring family communication preferences in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and Lynch syndrome: a national Canadian survey
It partially through the fundraising initiatives of Belles with Balls NL that such research can be completed. All monies raised through Belles with Balls stays in our province to fund research and education surrounding ovarian cancer. We are proud of the work of everyone involved and thrilled to share where our monies are going!
To access the article click the image
join the study if this applies to you
WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION! HELP MUN CONTINUE WITH RESEARCH THAT THE BELLES ARE INVOLVED WITH.
Help Multidisciplinary study team at Memorial University led by Dr. Holly Etchegary, Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the Faculty of Medicine, looking to better understand the experiences of people with hereditary cancer syndromes (individuals who had a genetic test and tested positive for any hereditary cancer gene e.g., Lynch syndrome, BRCA 1 or 2, PALB2, CHEK2, CDH1, RAD51C, MEN1, VHL, etc.), as well as what kind of support they may need to help manage their cancer risks.
A better understanding of these patients’ needs can help create supports and services for patients with hereditary cancers.
Potential participants who are interested in participating in a 45-60 minute interview over the phone, in person, or video conferencing can contact Rebecca Puddester; 709-697-2928; Email: rjp823@mun.ca OR Tanya Burry; 709-864-6623; Email: tanya.burry@med.mun.ca
This study has received funding from the Canadian Institute of Health Research and has been approved by the NL Health Research Ethics Authority.