Cancer Institute researcher awarded $50,000 through statewide grant program

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition honored Nancy Lill, assistant professor of pharmacology at Penn State Cancer Institute, with a $50,000 grant to take the next steps with her research into triple-negative breast cancer.

The funding is part of $150,000 the coalition is awarding this year to breast cancer researchers across the state. The money comes from the Research Grants Initiative, which began in 1997 and utilizes donations from Pennsylvanians on the state income tax form along with private donations. More than $3 million has been contributed to the program, and more than 90 grants have been awarded to breast cancer researchers.

Lill plans to use the grant on a specialized project targeting the treatment of aggressive triple-negative breast cancers. Her team plans to advance novel anticancer compounds, known as schweinfurthin analogues, toward the ultimate goal of clinical use against certain cancers that have been resistant to chemotherapy.

“The funding from your organization fills a critical gap in the research pipeline,” Lill said, addressing the coalition.

Among those on hand for the check presentation were Pat Halpin-Murphy, president and founder of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, and Dr. Raymond Hohl, director of Penn State Cancer Institute.

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