The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity established to raise awareness, encourage early detection and to fund research of esophageal cancer…in hopes of a cure.™
Established on November 21, 2011, in memory of The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation’s President’s father who died of esophageal cancer, the charity has successfully achieved two out of their three core missions in less than five years; awareness and encouraging early detection.
Now, for the first time, The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation will accomplish the third part of its mission by funding research of esophageal cancer.
“The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is excited to announce that our grant funding period is now open and will begin the process of receiving applications.”
Currently, esophageal cancer [adenocarcinoma] is the fastest growing cancer in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute and is rapidly increasing in many other western countries.
Esophageal cancer has increased over 600% in past decades, which some experts say may be attributed to the rising number of people being affected by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, known more commonly as GERD or acid reflux disease. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn, which affects billions of people each year.
Unfortunately, many are unaware that chronic heartburn can lead to esophageal cancer.
Also one of the deadliest cancers, symptoms of esophageal cancer, such as difficulty swallowing, do not typically appear until the cancer has spread and becomes much more difficult to treat. There are also no standard or routine screenings to detect esophageal cancer in its earlier stages.
Patients diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer face a survival rate of 3.8%. The overall 5 year survival rate for esophageal cancer is only 17.5%.
Despite these facts, esophageal cancer is among a group of cancers that receive the least amount of medical research funding from the federal government.
In fact, the National Cancer Institute decreased funding for research of esophageal cancer by 15% in 2012. NCI invests a mere $28.0 million out of their total $5.07 billion budget for esophageal cancer. That is approximately half of one percent.
In 2014, while The American Cancer Society reported on their website that they currently fund 1,165 cancer research projects, but only 8 of those projects are for esophageal cancer research.
There is a dire need for funding for esophageal cancer research. The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation welcomes applications from researchers who are working in the areas of prevention, early detection and treatment of esophageal cancer.
Researchers are invited to click here for more information on the Grant Application Process.
Those who wish to contribute to the Foundation’s esophageal cancer research efforts can click here to make a tax-deductible donation.
The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.
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The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation 