NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Victoria's Secret
and impact partner, Pelotonia, today announced the launch of the
new Global Fund for Women's Cancers, established to accelerate
innovation in cancer research for women, by women. This Fund is the
brand's inaugural purpose initiative as an independent company,
tying into its vision to be the world's leading advocate for
women.
To launch the program, Victoria's Secret will present five
female cancer researchers with scientific achievement awards of
$100,000 each to recognize and
further their outstanding contributions to the field of women's
cancers. Victoria's Secret established The Fund to make a
groundbreaking investment designed to improve outcomes specifically
for women's cancers, which are historically underfunded and
understudied. Nominations for these five meritorious awards will be
accepted and reviewed by a committee of global cancer research
experts overseen by The Fund's scientific partner, the American
Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
"The Victoria's Secret Global Fund for Women's Cancers and this
new initiative represent a substantial investment in not only the
future of cancer research, but also the recognition of
quintessential female cancer researchers who have pioneered
significant advancements in all areas of cancer research, treatment
and prevention of breast and gynecologic cancers," said
Margaret Foti, PhD, MD, co-chair of
The Victoria's Secret Global Fund for Women's Cancers Scientific
Advisory Committee and chief executive officer of the AACR.
In addition to the five inaugural scientific achievement awards
to be announced during the 2022 AACR Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Victoria's Secret, Pelotonia and
the AACR will collaborate to establish additional cancer research
grant programs in 2022 and 2023. These grants will provide funding
for mid-level and early-stage female investigators working
worldwide to conduct innovative cancer research in the field of
women's cancers. In total, The Fund will distribute funding to at
least 20 female cancer researchers. The grantees will be invited to
join a unique network, along with the AACR-led Scientific Advisory
Committee, and participate in virtual and in-person engagement
activities designed to foster communication and collaboration
amongst all grant recipients.
"By initiating funding to female researchers, who are vastly
underrepresented in the field of cancer research, The Fund will be
transformational to the development and retention of female cancer
researchers," said Electra Paskett, PhD, Cancer Survivor, Co-Chair
of The Victoria's Secret Global Fund for Women's Cancers Scientific
Advisory Committee and Director, Center for Cancer Health Equity at
The Ohio State University Comprehensive
Cancer Center – The James.
Importantly, this initiative will focus on the understanding,
prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of women's cancers,
with a goal of eliminating cancer health disparities and improving
patient outcomes. In 2020 alone, more than 9.23 million women
worldwide were diagnosed with cancer, a number that is expected to
rise to 10.3 million women by 2025.
"Women's cancers affect millions of women worldwide, yet this
field is historically under-resourced, and we are proud to launch
The Fund to support the female scientists doing this critically
important work," said Christy
Tostevin, senior vice president of communications and
community relations at Victoria's Secret. "We have long supported
cancer research, but this particular program – accelerating
innovation in cancer research for women, by women – is a tangible
way we're supporting our brand's mission to create positive change
for women."
For more information, please visit pelotonia.org/vsfund.
About Victoria's Secret:
Victoria's Secret (NYSE: VSCO) is the world's largest
intimates specialty retailer offering a wide assortment of modern,
fashion-inspired collections including signature bras, panties,
lingerie, casual sleepwear and athleisure, as well as award-winning
prestige fragrances and body care. With nearly 1,400 retail stores
worldwide and a predominately female workforce of more than 25,000,
Victoria's Secret boasts the largest team of specialty trained bra
fit experts worldwide. Victoria's Secret is committed to inspiring
women around the world with products and experiences that uplift
and champion them and their journey while creating lifelong
relationships and advocating for positive change.
About Pelotonia:
Pelotonia exists to engage, inspire, and challenge a community
committed to change the world by accelerating innovative cancer
research. Since its founding in 2008, Pelotonia has raised over
$236 million for cancer research
which has been invested in high-impact breakthroughs in prevention,
diagnostics and treatment, and recently, the launch of The
Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology. Thanks to its generous
funding partners, Pelotonia is able to direct 100 percent of every
community-raised dollar to cancer research. For more information,
visit pelotonia.org.
About the American Association for Cancer Research:
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization
dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent
and cure cancer. AACR membership includes 49,000 laboratory,
translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists;
other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in
126 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of
the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than
30 conferences and educational workshops—the largest of which is
the AACR Annual Meeting, with more than 74,000 attendees for the
2020 virtual meetings and more than 22,500 attendees for past
in-person meetings. In addition, the AACR publishes 10 prestigious,
peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer
survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds
meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with
numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand
Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants
administration, and scientific oversight of team science and
individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the
potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively
communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the
value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving
lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR,
visit www.AACR.org.
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SOURCE Victoria's Secret