OUR INITIATIVES
Our purpose is to help spread awareness, education, and research for underfunded rare cancers.
The purpose of The Laughlin Family Foundation is to help spread awareness, education, and research for underfunded and rare cancers.
A Critical Need For Funding
While there are many different types of rare cancers, one of the foundation’s first initiatives is to benefit gynecologic oncology (GYNONC).
There is a critical unmet need to fund research and support programs for women’s rare gynecological cancers, such as cervical, fallopian, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.
Every 6 minutes, a woman in the U.S. will be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer.
Every 15 minutes, a woman in the U.S. will be diagnosed with a rare gynecologic cancer.
And while gynecological cancer research does receive annual funding from the National Institute of Health, it’s not enough.
NIH provides $305 million in total annual funding to support gynecological cancer research.
But provides $754 million for just breast cancer alone…that’s more than double than what’s provided for ALL gynecological cancers combined!
Endometrial cancer is one of the only cancers on the rise in both incidence and mortality. And it is on track to become a public health crisis for women worldwide.
There’s no doubt that doctors and researchers have made great advancements surrounding cancer care and research, having caused the number of most cancers and solid tumors to decrease or plateau in the last several years. But not all have seen a decline.
In fact, there has been an alarming rise of endometrial cancer (uterine) and ovarian rates over the last 30 years, especially in the rare and aggressive forms of these cancers. And what’s even more alarming… is that uterine cancer is one of the only malignacies on the rise in both incidences and death… and yet it is still one of the least funded of the 5 GYN cancers.
Women’s cancer is more than just breast cancer, and we need to start thinking “below the belt!” We need to help save women’s lives.
We need to start thinking about our mothers, sisters, and daughters. And since The Laughlin Family Foundation believes that every cancer deserves a voice and a cure, we want to raise awareness through education and community outreach, and fund essential research to improve screening and treatment options for women’s GYNOC.
To date, our foundation has awarded over $500,000 in grants to support research and education for GYN cancers, with a heavy emphasis on endometrial cancers, including high grade uterine serous, which is highly underfunded.
For those interested in inquiring about potential research funding, please email Courtney Laughlin for more information.
*Please note: All gifts and grants awarded do not included and will not pay any indirect funds associated with the grant. The Laughlin Family Foundation will not support more than 10% of admin and operating expenses of awarded grant / recipient.
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Every cancer deserves a voice. Help us give a voice to rare cancers and fund research initiatives for better education and awareness for rare cancers.