Advancing research begins with investing in people and ideas. Despite stomach cancer receiving the least amount of federal research funding per cancer death of any major cancer, Debbie’s Dream Foundation is helping change that. By investing in innovative basic, translational, and clinical research, DDF connects scientists and clinicians with funding opportunities that accelerate discovery and expand treatment options for patients. Through direct research investments and collaborative grant programs, DDF is advancing progress toward earlier detection, better treatments, and improved outcomes.
Since 2014, Debbie’s Dream Foundation has invested nearly $2.6 million in stomach cancer research. Explore current funding opportunities, learn about our research partnerships, and discover the investigators whose work is shaping the future of stomach cancer research.
Debbie’s Dream Foundation Research Investments
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Since 2014, Debbie’s Dream Foundation has partnered with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to support fellowships, career development awards, innovation grants, and Scholar-in-Training Awards. Together, DDF and AACR have invested more than $2 million in stomach cancer research, helping launch careers, accelerate scientific discovery, and strengthen the global community of investigators working to improve prevention, detection, treatment, and patient outcomes.
Read below for more information.
Massachusetts General Hospital Translational Research Grant
In partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital, Debbie’s Dream Foundation supports innovative translational research that bridges discoveries in the laboratory with new approaches to patient care. This investment accelerates collaborative research designed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people affected by stomach cancer.
Current investigators:
- Samuel Klempner, MD
- Alexandra-Chloé Villani, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Fellowship Program
Through its fellowship program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Debbie’s Dream Foundation invests in the next generation of physician-scientists dedicated to advancing stomach cancer research. By supporting specialized training and mentorship, this initiative helps cultivate future leaders whose discoveries will continue to drive innovation and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
Current fellow:
- Jessica Posada, MD
Apply For Research Grant Opportunities
Debbie’s Dream Foundation is committed to advancing stomach cancer research by connecting investigators with funding opportunities that support innovative basic, translational, and clinical research. Explore current opportunities from DDF, federal agencies, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to accelerating discovery and improving patient outcomes.
Research Spotlight: Understanding H. pylori
and Stomach Cancer
Debbie’s Dream Foundation’s investment in research is helping advance discoveries that improve prevention, early detection, and treatment of stomach cancer. Through a DDF-AACR Research Fellowship, Valerie O’Brien, PhD, investigated how Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)—the leading preventable risk factor for stomach cancer—contributes to cancer development. Her research has identified promising opportunities for earlier detection and future therapeutic strategies, demonstrating how DDF-funded research is helping shape the future of stomach cancer care.
Learn more about Dr. O’Brien’s research and hear how DDF-AACR funding has impacted investigators through our Research Impact Series.
Where Research Funding Leads
Research funding is about more than grants. It’s about investing in people whose ideas have the potential to change lives. Through the Where Research Funding Leads series, Debbie’s Dream Foundation highlights researchers whose work has been advanced through both DDF-AACR awards and DDF Institutional Grants & Fellowships, showcasing how these investments are accelerating discoveries and shaping the future of stomach cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
Hear directly from DDF-supported investigators as they share how research funding has influenced their careers, fostered collaboration, and advanced research that is improving outcomes for patients and families affected by stomach cancer.
Read Our Research Impact with AACR Since 2014
Since 2014, Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) have partnered to invest in stomach cancer research, connecting promising investigators with funding that advances discovery, supports scientific careers, and helps improve outcomes for patients and families.