After the death of Grace Listwin in 2001, her son Don set out to find a research institution that focused on the early detection of ovarian cancer. The search led to a researcher by the name of Dr. Nicole Urban located in Seattle at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (FHCC).
Don started funding some of Dr. Urban's work and also started learning about this new field called biomarkers. One marker, CA 125, was already being used as an indicator for ovarian cancer in women, but it was not proving to be an adequate marker for all women, especially for early detection.
Don later met Nobel Laureate Dr. Lee Hartwell, director of the FHCC. The idea of creating a full scale Biomarker Discovery and Analysis Program at the HUTCH was born. Don's $10-million investment helped establish the core of a biomarker discovery and analysis program, and the HUTCH remains one of Canary's 'Centers of Excellence' today.
Canary-funded research at the Hutch has gone from finding promising ovarian cancer detection blood biomarkers in clinical trials to now validating them in large clinical trials.
In 2002, shortly after the Canary Foundation was established following Grace Listwin's death from ovarian cancer, Don Listwin provided funding to Dr. Nicole Urban at Fred Hutch for biomarker research. This marked the beginning of a partnership that has transformed ovarian cancer detection.
"The support from Canary Foundation allowed us to pursue high-risk, high-reward research that traditional funding wouldn't support. This freedom led to discoveries that are now saving lives." - Dr. Nicole Urban
Dr. Urban's team validated the HE4 biomarker in 2008, now used worldwide for ovarian cancer detection and monitoring, improving diagnostic accuracy significantly.
Large-scale epidemiological studies identifying risk factors and screening strategies for high-risk populations, informing national screening guidelines.
Pioneering work on cancer prevention strategies, including studies on prophylactic surgery and chemoprevention for high-risk individuals.
Building international research networks that accelerate discovery and ensure findings benefit diverse populations globally.
Senior investigator leading ovarian cancer biomarker research since 2002. Dr. Urban's work has fundamentally changed how we approach ovarian cancer detection.
Nobel Laureate and former Fred Hutch Director who championed the partnership with Canary Foundation, bringing institutional support for early detection research.
Developing blood tests that can detect multiple cancer types from a single sample, focusing on cancers that lack current screening methods.
Investigating vaccines and immunotherapies that could prevent cancer development in high-risk individuals before tumors form.
Addressing cancer detection disparities in underserved populations through community-based research and culturally appropriate screening programs.
Using genetic and molecular profiling to identify individuals at highest risk and develop personalized prevention strategies.
The Canary-Fred Hutch partnership continues to evolve, focusing on translating discoveries into clinical practice and ensuring that early detection technologies reach all communities. Our shared vision includes:
Deploying detection technologies worldwide
Growing multi-institutional networks
Ensuring equitable access to screening
Help us continue this productive partnership that has already transformed cancer detection and saved countless lives.