News & Stories
Hope for Ovarian Cancer Patients: The Cooper Foundation Receives $70,000 Donation from Barbara T. Ferraro Foundation, Bringing Total Contribution to $170,000
The Cooper Foundation received a generous $70,000 donation from the Barbara T. Ferraro Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation—marking its third significant gift in support of groundbreaking ovarian cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. With two previous donations of $50,000 each, this latest contribution brings the Foundation’s total giving to $170,000, underscoring its deep commitment to leading the charge against one of the most difficult cancers to treat.
“This funding directly supports the next generation of ovarian cancer treatments at MD Anderson at Cooper focused on the NRF2 and KEAP1 genes, which play a key role in how cancer cells resist chemotherapy and immunotherapy,” said Generosa Grana, MD, FACP, director of MD Anderson at Cooper.
“Our focus on the NRF2 and KEAP1 genes is crucial in understanding how cancer cells evade treatment,” said David P. Warshal, MD, FACOG, of whom Barbara was a longtime patient. “These genes produce proteins that can shield cancer cells, making them resistant to treatment. By targeting these genes, researchers aim to unlock more effective treatments for patients facing advanced, treatment-resistant forms of cancer.”
“The Barbara T. Foundation is unwavering in its mission to eliminate ovarian cancer,” said Jay D. Ferraro, whose late wife, Barbara, inspired the Foundation’s creation. “Our continued support of the research program at
MD Anderson at Cooper is fueled by deep appreciation for the physicians, researchers, and staff, and by a personal understanding of the urgency and devastation of ovarian cancer.”
“The generosity of donors like the Barbara T. Foundation allows us to accelerate discoveries that can transform the future of cancer care and deliver promising therapies to patients long before they become standard,” said George E. Norcross III, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cooper University Health Care.
“We are especially honored when individuals and families touched by cancer choose to support our work—particularly when our team has been part of their care journey,” added Philip A. Norcross, Esq., chairman of The Cooper Foundation Board.
The Barbara T. Foundation was established in memory of Barbara T. Ferraro, whose six-year journey with ovarian cancer inspired a legacy of philanthropy and hope. Her family and friends remain dedicated to funding life-saving discoveries and honoring her memory.
Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early. Symptoms are vague and commonly mistaken for other conditions, leading to diagnoses at more advanced stages when treatment becomes more complex. Compounding the challenge, ovarian cancer frequently develops resistance to standard therapies, reducing long-term survival rates.
The Gynecologic Cancer Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper is the largest and most experienced program of its kind in South Jersey. For more than 30 years, its team of specialists has provided expert, compassionate care to women with cancer and precancerous diseases of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, vulva, and vagina.