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 $10M, 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
Known for her lifelong investigations dedicated to unraveling breast cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance.
Susan M. Domchek, MD
Executive Director
Basser Center for BRCA
Revered for her work in genetic testing, risk reduction strategies, and targeted therapeutics regarding breast cancer.
Karen H. Lu, MD
Chair of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Noteworthy achievements include her studies of endometrial cancer in Lynch Syndrome and the prevention of ovarian and sporadic endometrial cancers.
Lisa A. Newman, MD, MPH
Chief, Section of Breast Surgery
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Credited with significantly advancing the understanding of etiology and breast cancer in Africa and African American women.
Martine J. Piccart, MD, PhD, FAACR
Honorary Professor of Oncology
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Respected for her unparalleled leadership in advancing breast cancer clinical trials and drug development.