Support Women-Led Research

Members of Markey Women Strong fund women-led research that is transforming cancer prevention and treatment.

Join Markey Women Strong

With Kentucky leading the nation in cancer deaths each year, members of Markey Women Strong are a generous group of donors with a unique focus—to fund women-led cancer research at UK Markey. When you join with a membership contribution of $1,000, you support female researchers working to unlock
the mysteries of cancer through two grants of $50,000 each.

Every year Markey Women Strong members review proposals and, through a voting process, award $100,000. During the year, grant recipients update members—giving you an exclusive look at the latest in cancer research, and how your donations are fueling groundbreaking discoveries right here in Kentucky.

8 Years

Markey Women Strong members have been funding cancer research since 2016.

100 Members

Together, these donors fuel the fight against cancer by supporting life-changing research.

16 Grantees

Female researchers are advancing cancer treatments and improving patient care.

$800,000

Member generosity demonstrates their commitment to beating cancer in Kentucky.

"THE BEST HOPE A CANCER PATIENT HAS IS GOOD RESEARCH"
- Dr. Ed Romond

Card image cap

“When a patient doesn’t respond well to their cancer care plan, it’s up to the oncologist to make a decision about which new treatment to pursue. Research allows our oncologists to have more options in caring for our patients.”

Dr. Kathleen O’Connor

Grant Recipient, Markey Women Strong

Card image cap

“As a member of Markey Women Strong, I feel privileged to have the unique opportunity to financially support women dedicated to cancer research. I also appreciate the opportunity Markey Cancer Center has provided to educate me about the specific areas of cancer research the women are pursuing. It has and continues to be a win win experience.”

Pat Gradek

Member, Markey Women Strong

Grant Recipients

Markey Women Strong is proud to support the following researchers and their work to advance cancer prevention and treatment.

Card image cap

Mautin Barry-Hundeyin, MD | 2024

Assistant Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery
Research Focus: How Macrophages Regulate Stomach Cancer

Card image cap

Kathleen O'Connor, PhD | 2024

Associate Director of Cancer Education, UK Markey Cancer Center
Research Focus: Can We Use Chemotherapy Better in Order to Cure Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

Card image cap

Christine Brainson, PhD | 2023

Associate Professor, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Overcoming Therapeutic Resistance in Lung Cancer Using Novel Combination Therapies

Card image cap

Rina Plattner, PhD | 2023

Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Developing New Therapies for Metastatic Melanoma

Card image cap

Jill M. Kolesar, PharmD, MS | 2022

University Research Professor, Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine
Research Focus: Development of Novel Treatments for Ovarian Cancer

Card image cap

Krystle A. Lang Kuhs, PhD, MPH | 2022

Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health
Research Focus: The VOYAGER Study: HPV16 AntibOdy Detection as an EarlY Marker of OrophArynGeal CancER

Card image cap

Luksana Chaiswing, PhD | 2021

Assistant Professor (tenure track), Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Targeting Cell Powerhouses "Mitochondria" to Enhance Radiation Treatment Outcomes

Card image cap

Emilia Galperin, PhD | 2021

Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Tampering with ERK1/2 Signals for Cancer Treatment

Card image cap

Teresa Fan, PhD | 2020

Professor, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Uncovering Plasma Exosomal Lipid Patterns for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer

Card image cap

Kate Zaytseva, PhD | 2020

Assistant Professor (tenure track), Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Lipid Metabolism as a Therapeutic Target for Colorectal Cancer

Card image cap

Tianyan Gao, PhD | 2019

Professor, Dept. of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Study of Metabolic Interactions in Obesity Associated Colon Cancer

Card image cap

Eva M. Goellner, PhD | 2019

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Toxicology & Cancer Biology, College of Medicine
Research Focus: DNA Mismatch Repair in Chemotherapy Resistance

Card image cap

Sally R. Ellingson, PhD | 2018

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine
Research Focus: Computational Methods that Predict Drug Interactions

Card image cap

Kathleen O’Connor, PhD | 2018

Associate Director of Cancer Education, UK Markey Cancer Center
Research Focus: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Card image cap

Rina Plattner, PhD | 2017

Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
Research Focus: Melanoma Metastasis and Therapeutic Resistance

Card image cap

Kathleen O’Connor, PhD | 2017

Associate Director of Cancer Education, UK Markey Cancer Center
Research Focus: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Markey Women Strong 2024 Members

Mrs. Katherine S. Alford
Ms. Ann B. Bakhaus
Mrs. Linda Ball
Mrs. Elizabeth H. Barr
Mrs. Susan P. Beebe
Mrs. Mary M. Bell
Mrs. Sandra Bell
Mrs. Ann Wesley Boardman
Ms. Caroline Boone
Ms. Catie Boone
Mrs. Daphne Brittain
Ms. Anita Britton
Mrs. Caroline Bromagen
Mrs. Libby Brown
Mrs. Alice Buchart
Mrs. Sherri Bullard
Ms. Betsy Bulleit
Mrs. Anna Cambron
Dr. Mary Lynne Capilouto
Mrs. Lee Carroll
Dr. Lisa Cassis
Mrs. Ellen Chapman
Mrs. Jeanne Codell
Mrs. Susan Cowden
Mrs. Kelly Craft
Mrs. Cathy DePriest
Mrs. Melanie Dowell
Mrs. Melinda Drake
Mrs. Mitzi Eckerline
Mrs. Suzanne Elliott
Mrs. Karen Evers
Mrs. Debra Ezzell
Mrs. Nancy Fallon
Mrs. Kelley Farish
Ms. Noa Gimelli
Mrs. Alexandra Goodman
Mrs. Hannah Jane Goodman
Mrs. Maeve Goodman
Mrs. Rebecca Goodman
Mrs. Julie Gosky
Ms. Pat Gradek
Mrs. Ann Greely
Mrs. Donna Hall
Mrs. Deborah Hancock
Mrs. Christine Harris
Mrs. Mary Hartley
Mrs. Sarah Hicks
Mrs. Anne Hinkle
Dr. Leslie Horn
Mrs. Alyce Hoskins
Mrs. Mary Humphrey
Mrs. Sally Humphrey
Mrs. Mollie Jameson
Mrs. Sandy Judy
Mrs. Callie Keller
Mrs. Susie Keller
Mrs. Elizabeth Kenan
Mrs. Vange Lear
Mrs. Eunice Logan (In Memoriam)
Mrs. Deborah Logan
Dr. Kristina Lu
Mrs. Sara Luftman
Mrs. Muffy Lyster
Mrs. Ginny May
Mrs. Katherine McCarty
Mrs. Betty Ann McLean
Mrs. Amy Mellinger
Mrs. Luanne Milward
Ms. Lillian Moore
Mrs. Janice Mueller
Mrs. Susan Mullineaux
Dr. Anne Murry
Mrs. Ali Neuberger
Mrs. Celeste Neuman
Mrs. Susan Nicholson
Ms. Victoria Oliver
Mrs. Janie Pappas
Ms. Laura Parrish
Mrs. Louise Pendery
Mrs. Patricia Pfiester (In Memoriam)
Mrs. Mallory Pfiester Martinez
Ms. Ann Price Walters
Mrs. Daisy Pulito
Mrs. Becky Reinhold
Mrs. Lois Reynolds
Mrs. Mary Jane Rosenstein
Ms. Jennifer Roytz
Mrs. Cathy Rupp
Ms. Martha Schlegel
Dr. Magdalene Stewart
Mrs. Ann Stilz
Ms. Muffy Stewart
Mrs. Barbara Thomason
Mrs. Patricia Tierney
Mrs. Madonna Turner
Mrs. Helen Tweed
Mrs. Michaela Ueland
Mrs. Jennifer Van Meter
Mrs. Linda Van Meter
Ms. Cynthia Van Dyke
Mrs. Neal Vaughn
Mrs. Barbara Young
Mrs. Josefine Young

STORIES OF IMPACT

Community Kindness Inspired Her Fight

“The UK Markey team is determined to win their all-out war against cancer. If one strategy doesn’t work, they’re right there, ready to try another one.”

Read More

Join Markey Women Strong

As a member of Markey Women Strong, you’ll fund groundbreaking research on cancer prevention, treatment and patient care. Join today and make a significant impact in the fight against cancer.

UK Markey