The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and The GOG Foundation, Inc. (GOG-F) launch BRIDGES 2.0 Research Initiative with support from the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC).

PRESS RELEASE

Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA, USA, April 11, 2024: The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and The GOG Foundation, Inc. (GOG-F) Launch BRIDGES 2.0 Research Initiative with support from the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC).  After a successful inaugural year, the SGO and the GOG-F join forces to collaborate, and proudly announce the launch of an expanded two-year clinical trial education program supported by the FWC.  This important career and clinical trial development initiative aims to cultivate the next generation of investigators in gynecologic oncology and will focus on clinical and translational research advancements, trial methodology, and real-world clinical trials implementation. 

BRIDGES 2.0. is tailored for gynecologic oncologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists in the early stages of their careers, including senior fellows and faculty members with less than ten years of experience post-training, to gain critical insights into clinical trial design fundamentals. The organizations are accepting applications here, and detailed eligibility criteria can be found on the dedicated BRIDGES 2.0 Research Initiative webpage.

“The collaboration between our organizations illustrates how we can move our field forward together. The importance of teaching clinical trials and clinical trial research to early-career gynecologic oncologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists creates new opportunities in gynecologic oncology, ultimately benefiting our patients. shared Thomas Herzog, MD, President of the GOG-F. “On behalf of the GOG-F, we are excited to partner with the SGO and grateful to the FWC and other industry supporters for helping fund this important initiative.”

The SGO, GOG-F, and the FWC eagerly anticipate robust participation in BRIDGES 2.0 and the opportunity to nurture a cohort of talented trialists who will make enduring contributions. “On behalf of the FWC, we are thrilled to partner with the SGO and GOG-F. The BRIDGES 2.0 Research Initiative will provide opportunities for early-career scholars to interact closely with clinical trial mentors, translational scientists, biostatisticians, and patient advocates, said Ginger J. Gardner, MD, FWC Chair. “The FWC is pleased to support BRIDGES 2.0 with programmatically designed grantsmanship training and resources in addition to numerous research funding and scholarship opportunities.”

“Together, the SGO, GOG-F, and FWC are committed to fostering innovation, collaboration, and excellence in clinical trial research, with the ultimate goal of advancing care and outcomes for women with gynecologic cancers,” said Amanda Fader, MD, SGO President. “We are thrilled to join forces on this important mission and have the privilege of developing the future clinical trial leaders in our field. Thank you to our generous program sponsors for supporting the BRIDGES 2.0 Research Initiative.”

Applications are actively being accepted as of today, Thursday, April 4. Interested candidates can find a comprehensive outline of application requirements on the BRIDGES webpage. Prospective applicants are encouraged to prepare submissions early to ensure receipt by the deadline of Thursday, May 16, 2024. The selected cohort of BRIDGES 2.0 scholars will begin their program engagement in July 2024 at the NRG Oncology Semi-Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

The SGO and GOG-F are grateful to the FWC for their support of this research program and also thank additional program partners, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), AstraZeneca, GSK, Merck, and Seagen, for their generous support.

About The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO):

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) is a premier medical society for healthcare professionals trained in the comprehensive management of gynecologic cancers. The mission of the SGO is to prevent and treat individuals with gynecologic cancers with equity, thereby improving lives through advocacy, engagement, education, research, and collaboration. The Society’s vision is to eradicate gynecologic cancers.  The SGO contributes to improving the care of individuals with gynecologic cancers and the careers of physicians and other cancer care providers through innovative education, research training and dissemination, career development, and policy and advocacy.

 About The GOG Foundation, Inc. (www.gog.org):

The GOG Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization promoting excellence in the quality and integrity of clinical and translational scientific research in gynecologic malignancies. The GOG Foundation is committed to maintaining the highest standards in clinical trials development, execution, analysis, and distribution of results. The GOG Foundation is the only clinical trialist group in the United States that focuses its research on patients with pelvic malignancies, such as cancer of the ovary (including surface peritoneal malignancies), uterus (including endometrium, soft tissue sarcoma, and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia), cervix, and vulva. The GOG Foundation is multi-disciplinary in its approach to clinical trials and includes gynecologic oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, biostatisticians (including those with expertise in bioinformatics), basic scientists, quality of life experts, data managers, and administrative personnel.

 About The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) https://foundationforwomenscancer.org):

The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) is a non-profit organization that strives to improve the care and outcomes for all patients facing gynecologic cancers by funding innovative research, providing patient educational resources, and advocating for increased awareness for all gynecologic malignancies. The FWC works to bring together all communities of advocates, patients, caregivers, partners, and the healthcare team to reduce the impact, and eradicate gynecologic cancers. Driven by the vision of a world in which everyone has the power to impact, prevent or overcome a diagnosis of gynecologic cancer, the FWC is committed to increasing awareness, diversity and inclusion, education, leadership, partnership, and research. 

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Corporate & Media Contacts:

Society of Gynecologic Oncology & Foundation for Women’s Cancer

Elizabeth Kix, MPH, APR

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

515-203-1433, elizabeth.kix@sgo.org

GOG Foundation, Inc.

Jenna Cummins, CMP, Executive Director of Business Development

773-750-5753, jcummins@gog.org