The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF) have announced a new fellowship opportunity in gastric cancer research.

The Debbie's Dream Foundation-AACR Gastric Cancer Fellowship represents a joint effort to encourage and support a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow to conduct gastric cancer research and to establish a successful career path. The proposed research may be basic, translational, clinical or epidemiological in nature and must have direct applicability and relevance to gastric cancer.

Headquartered in Davie, Fla. and helping patients, families and caregivers internationally, DDF is an international leader in raising awareness, advancing funding for stomach cancer research and supporting those affected by all forms of stomach cancer through its many free programs.

"The overall five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with stomach cancer in the U.S. is less than 30%, so the AACR is pleased to be partnering with Debbie's Dream Foundation to offer a fellowship in gastric cancer research," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. "We know that one reason the overall survival rate is so low is that gastric cancer is predominantly diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it extremely hard to treat. This new funding opportunity will help to foster new research and accelerate progress against this disease, which is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide."

"We are delighted to be collaborating with the AACR on this grant opportunity. This partnership will allow the grant to be publicized to a larger audience, thus bringing the best and brightest minds into stomach cancer research. Collaboration is one of the keys to advancing gastric cancer treatment options," said Madelyn Herzfeld, DDF board member and DDF grant committee chair.

"We have been working tirelessly to fund research indirectly through advocacy and we are thrilled to now fund gastric cancer research directly," said Debbie Zelman, president and founder of DDF. "With this grant, we are achieving our mission and we are one step closer to our ultimate goal of making the cure for stomach cancer a reality."

The fellowship will provide $50,000 over a one-year term, which will begin July 1.