Women's Health Awareness month takes place in May. We took some time to chat with CEO and Founder, Teresa Lawsky of The Laurus Project which focuses on funding research projects that assist in prevention as well as curing breast cancer. We delved into finding out about a nunber of projects and goals of this group, looking at the importance of understanding their focus on action as opposed to merely having an awareness of breast cancer, as well as creating a community of Thrivers that continue to share their empowering and uplifting message.
AM: When did you launch this and what is your role as a CEO and a Founder?
ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to launching the Laurus Project, tell us about your background.
AM: What are some of the human trials and research that you support?*
TERESA LAWSKY: I served as a nurse clinician specializing in breast cancer for about 18 years. I practiced at major institutions in NYC and leading hospitals in Southern California. During that period of time, I really got an up close experience to the human condition that occurs when women and some men are diagnosed with breast cancer. AM: Due to your experience, what led you to creating the Laurus Project and tell us about what the aims are for the organization. TL: I was in my office and I said to my assistant, “how many more women have to walk through this door before we do something about it?” Incidents of breast cancer remain high in the US with about 1 in 8 women diagnosed in their lifetime and although we are doing a lot of work as it related to awareness, I really felt that there was a gap as it relates to prevention. So one of the goals that we have at the Laurus Project is to help prevent the onset of disease in women, new diagnosis and then preventing recurrences in women that have had past diagnoses. So this is a lifelong challenge for women to stay cancer free and that is something that we want to help with.
TL: It was founded in 2015 and we launched in 2016. I really am very involved in the strategy and making sure that our programs and grants really fulfill our mission and provide action for those affected by the disease. That’s something that I feel very strongly about. I work very closely with researchers that we support. It’s a day to day thing and I stay very tight and close with it. I have my hand in a lot of what we are doing.
TL: In order to advance cutting edge therapy and new therapy treatment to people who desperately and frankly need it, human trials are necessary for FDA approval. To expedite it from the lab to a human trial and then to a health care setting, this is required. So there are sometimes for various reasons a gap in funding of research in human trials. So that is what we are looking to fill. That’s a way for us to expedite it into the hands of people who need it. That’s part of the reason that we are so involved on that side. AM: So what research are you working on that you can share with us? TL: One of the trials that we are participating on for funding that I am really excited about is diet related. It is a fasting mimicking diet based on the research of Dr. Valter Longo. It’s a trial that is looking at reducing or preventing breast cancer in women that are deemed high risk. This is an ongoing clinical trial and we are participating in funding that. I think that in a couple of years, we will even have some data come out of that that should be pretty exciting! That is something that we are working on that we are really excited about. AM: What is the process for a researcher to present a project to you and how does The Laurus Project go about deciding what
