The Mary Kay Foundation is awarding $1.2 million in cancer research grants this year. The grant program funds research to find a cure for cancers affecting women.

The Foundation has awarded $100,000 grants to 12 cancer research institutions across the country. This year's grant recipients are from the following institutions -- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center; Weill Cornell Medicine; Washington University in St. Louis; University of North Carolina Lineberger; Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of Wisconsin - Madison; UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Dakota; and the University of Chicago.

The grant program funds research to find a cure for cancers affecting women. The grants this year will support research in a wide range of areas.

At UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, researchers are working to rationalize a precision medicine approach to ovarian cancer therapy. Medical scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center will be doing research in hopes of expanding the use of immunotherapy to breast cancers that are not currently responsive to immunotherapy treatment.

Michael Lunceford, president of The Mary Kay Foundation Board of Directors, comments, "We have seen previous grants lead to innovative breakthroughs in the study of breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers and are thrilled with this year's recipients. The Foundation's commitment to cancer research is anchored by our founder's legacy and carried on by the passion and support of our company and independent sales force to someday find a cure."

Lunceford adds, "This year we have seen a push for research regarding immunotherapy and are excited to see the results of this groundbreaking treatment method. By continuing support for these scientists and institutions we know we are continuing to better and enrich the lives of women everywhere."

Since 1996, the Foundation has awarded more than $28 million in grants to universities and medical centers around the country.