Gastric Cancer Foundation grew out of one brave patient’s personal journey. When our founder, JP Gallagher, was diagnosed with gastric cancer in 2007, he was a busy 37-year old professional with a young and growing family. In fact, his wife was pregnant with their third child.  His diagnosis was both shocking and frightening, and JP immediately began searching for information and hope.  Both were in short supply.  At the time, there was no centralized resource of information, and what was available offered little hope.  JP’s difficult experience – and his recognition of a need for information and encouragement for all stomach cancer patients – became the seed of an idea that grew into the Gastric Cancer Foundation.

JP wanted to learn everything there was to know about his disease while coping with the fears and emotions that accompany a cancer diagnosis. He immediately went online and found very little.

While recovering from treatment that included the complete removal of his stomach, JP became determined to address the lack of centralized information and support available to patients – including how to live with the disease — and more importantly, the inadequate level of funding for research.

With the encouragement and guidance of family, friends, and his oncologist, JP mobilized a dedicated group of volunteer leaders to launch the Foundation. His vision was to create an organization that would advance research to find a cure and help patients and caregivers understand and cope with the disease.

An extraordinary partnership was forged with The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a highly respected leader in the cancer research world.  Through this partnership, the young organization benefitted from The V Foundation’s expertise and support in scientific evaluation, grant management and oversight, and financial administration. In recognition of significant growth and progress, the Gastric Cancer Foundation transitioned from fiscal sponsorship to operations as an independent non-profit organization in March 2020.

Sadly, JP experienced two recurrences of his cancer. He served as Chairman of Gastric Cancer Foundation until he lost his battle with the disease and passed away on February 26, 2013. The Gastric Cancer Foundation Board and volunteers are continuing the work that JP began. We are determined to find a cure.

Today, Gastric Cancer Foundation provides hope and support for thousands of patients across the United States and around the world.  Our mission is straightforward: to find a cure for gastric cancer.

Learn more about key milestones in the Foundation’s efforts to raise awareness, expand research and improve patient support.

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HISTORY & MILESTONES

2020

• Gastric Cancer Foundation joins with Debbie’s Dream and other advocacy organizations to sponsor the 8^th Annual Advocacy Day in Washington DC.  Foundation support provided scholarships to enable the participation of patients and caregivers.

• Gastric Cancer Foundation transitions from fiscal sponsorship to operations as an independent non-profit organization.

2019

• Gastric Cancer Foundation-Supported Research Published: Saenz et al. Tropism for Spasmolytic Polypeptide-Expressing Metaplasia Allows Helicobacter pylori to Expand Its Intragastric Niche. Gastroenterology 2019; 156(1): 160-174.

• Grants awarded to three new research projects at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Stanford Cancer Center.

• Foundation held 10^th Anniversary “A Cause for Hope” gala celebration which raised over $250,000 for research and awareness programs.

2018

• Gastric Cancer Foundation-Supported Research Published: Saenz and Mills. Acid and the basis for cellular plasticity and programming in gastric repair and cancer.Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2018; 15(5): 257-273.
• Gastric Cancer Foundation-Supported Research Published: El-Zaatari et al.  Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1, Increased in Human Gastric Pre-Neoplasia, Promotes Inflammation and Metaplasia in Mice and is Associated With Type II Hypersensitivity/Autoimmunity.  Gastroenterology 2018; 154: 140-153.
• Gastric Cancer Foundation introduces new clinical trial navigator service through Emerging Med
• Foundation partners with Smart Patients to build online community conversation for patients and caregivers

2017

• Paul Gottsegen and K. Alice Leung elected Gastric Cancer Foundation Board Co-Chairs
• Gastric Cancer Foundation-Supported Research Published: Greer et al. Linked read sequencing resolves complex genomic rearrangements in gastric cancer metastases. Genome Medicine 201, 9:57.
• Jose Saenz, MD, PhD of Washington University (St. Louis) receives the second AGA-Gastric Cancer Foundation Research Scholar Award to study how Helicobacter pylori genetically adapts to different regions of the stomach. This research could indicate which bacterial genes are important for survival in these regions, and enable therapeutic targeting of these genes, as well as detection of patients with an increased risk based on the bacterial profiles.
• Began production of video series featuring Hans Rueffert, “Chef Without A Stomach” to provide support for the special nutritional challenges faced by gastric cancer patients.
• Research Scholar Award officially named the “Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Award in Gastric Cancer”

2015

• Gastric Cancer Foundation joins with other patient advocacy organizations as member of the GI Cancers Alliance

2014

• Mohamad El-Zaatari, MD, PhD of University of Michigan receives the first AGA-Gastric Cancer Foundation Research Scholar Award, a 3-year grant to investigate the process by which chronic inflammation causes certain cells to become malignant. The study could point to new targets for drug development.
• Gastric Cancer Foundation-Supported Research Published: Nadauld et al. Metastatic tumor evolution and organoid modeling implicate TGFBR2 as a cancer drive in diffuse gastric cancer. Genome Biology 2014, 15:428.

2013

• JP Gallagher dies from gastric cancer
• Wayne Feinstein elected Gastric Cancer Foundation Board Chair
• Gastric Cancer Foundation partners with American Gastroenterological Association to create $2.25 million endowment for perpetual Research Scholar Award in Gastric Cancer

2012

• Gastric Cancer Foundation-Supported Research Published: Nadauld et al. Quantitative and Sensitive Detection of Cancer Genome Amplifications from Formalin Fixed Paraffin Tumors with Droplet Digital PCR. Translational Medicine (Sunnyvale) 2012; 2:2, 1000107

2011

• First comprehensive HIPAA-compliant Gastric Cancer Registry launched at Stanford Medical Center

2010

• First Gastric Cancer Foundation grant to Genomic Research Project at Stanford Cancer Center ($550,000 granted 2010-2015)

2009

• Gastric Cancer Foundation established as charity partner of The V Foundation for Cancer Research

2007

• Founder JP Gallagher diagnosed with gastric cancer.