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When Mary-Claire King, Ph.D., now an American Cancer Society Research Professor at the University of Washington, discovered the genetic mutation that¡¯s responsible for 5¨C10% of all breast cancers, the world was changed. Women who had suspected a genetic cause for the increased risk within their families had an answer, and the scientific world was enlightened to the link between genetics and other cancers and diseases ¨C leading to more advancements in research.

King¡¯s two decades of work (1974¨C94) culminated in her discovery of BRCA1, the ¡°inherited breast cancer gene.¡± In 1995, the Society encouraged her continued work by naming her an American Cancer Society Research Professor, a status made possible with an endowment by the Walt Disney family.

¡°I was overwhelmed to be selected,¡± says King. ¡°The funding has allowed me to strike out in ways that are far more risky than federal funding would permit. Private foundation support, in general, celebrates risk-taking. I think that¡¯s why I was selected in the first place. And Society support has been an important part of that.¡±

King¡¯s recent work has focused on ¡°inexpensive, complete, accurate ways of finding and characterizing every mutation in every known breast cancer gene ¨C now there are about 20 ¨C and ensuring testing is available to women in general.¡± She adds, ¡°I¡¯ve been able to keep going and it¡¯s been enormously successful; we¡¯re saving tens of thousands of lives.¡±

Beginning spring 2013, moviegoers in select theaters across the United States and Canada could see how King¡¯s findings translate to real lives via Decoding Annie Parker. The film ties King¡¯s work to Parker¡¯s real-life experience with BRCA1, which included the loss of her mother and sister as well as her own diagnosis.

It¡¯s a dramatic, traumatic story, but one with a glimmer of hope that conveys the nature of research: ¡°If we have learned anything in the history of science in the Western world, it¡¯s that science is immensely beneficial to solving problems of health, but that does not happen quickly,¡± says King. ¡°And research grants matter enormously¡ªwe couldn¡¯t get anywhere without donors.

¡°I think of Society grants the way I think of money that I earn,¡± continues King. ¡°Every dime, every dollar is accounted for, is used very frugally and goes to research that matters.¡±

This article originally appeared in the , published by Pace Communications and the American Cancer Society. Reprinted with permission.