On Monday, October 21, members of Markey Women Strong gathered to share in the message on The Power of Working Together. The evening commenced with a powerful dialogue steered by Dr. Timothy Mullet, Medical Director of the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network (MCCAN), which provides access to high-quality cancer treatment throughout the commonwealth of Kentucky.
In working together, patients and their families benefit from MCCAN, which includes medical staff known and trusted by the Markey Cancer Center. Markey sets the bar high and encourages its affiliate network locations to do the same. Hospitals and medical facilities within the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network go through cancer-specific education, training, all while achieving and maintain Commission on Cancer accreditation. The Markey Cancer Center aims to make sure the people of Kentucky can receive the same top-level care no matter where they live within the Commonwealth.
Additionally, members received an update from 2019 MWS Distinguished Researchers Tianyan Gao, PhD and Eva Goellner, PhD. In the past six months, Dr. Gao has been working to find a link between obesity and colorectal cancer and researching how that connection might help doctors to develop personalized treatment for such patients.
Since receiving her grant earlier in the year, Dr. Goellner shared that the MWS funding has allowed her to expand her lab and take on more researchers. In a mostly female-driven research environment, Dr. Goellner and her team have been studying DNA mismatch repair and its resistance to chemotherapy. The goal is to understand how newly discovered protein players can change the sensitivity to chemotherapy treatments and hopefully allow for better choices in treatment options for patients.
As we embark on our fourth year and $400,000 of support in female-led cancer research, Markey Women Strong members share in the belief on the power of working together. Through actively inviting friends and family to join MWS, you are funding life-saving research and helping Kentuckians beat cancer. If someone you know is interested in becoming a member of Markey Women Strong, please contact Sarah Ronniger, Philanthropy Officer at Markey Cancer Foundation, sarah.ronniger@uky.edu.com / 859-257-1753.