When Dr. Laura Shawver was diagnosed with ovarian cancer four years ago, she didn’t panic. A scientist and drug developer working in biotechnology and cancer research for more than 20 years — the last eight in La Jolla — Shawver was more than familiar with treatment procedures and was confident she had the knowledge and resources to effectively fight the disease. The shocking reality came shortly after when she realized that precious little research has explored how to treat ovarian cancer on an individual basis, and that the same techniques developed 40 years ago are still being used today. “Cancer diagnosis never goes over easily,” Shawver said. “But realizing that there was no way I could get access to what I was doing in the lab as a patient was very frustrating.” Through her research, Shawver — who is also chief executive officer of the drug development company Phenomix Corp — knew scientists were making strides in characterizing tumors according to molecular biology. This meant patients could seek care specifically tailored to their individual needs. However, “ovarian cancer is all treated the same no matter what your histology is,” Shawver said. “There have been few attempts to understand the molecular underpinnings that drive the disease on a basic level.” Each year, 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Shawver said. “And each year, there are 15,000 deaths,” she added. For perspective, 15,000 people also die of breast cancer each year. But 180,000 are diagnosed. “Those numbers tell us we’re not doing a good job of treating ovarian cancer,” Shawver said. “As a scientist, I thought the situation didn’t make sense.” With a history of taking action, Shawver decided once again to apply her expertise where it could make a difference. Only now, the fight was personal. “As a drug developer, I knew that we were starting to understand the molecular targets that each drug interacts with,” she said. “I thought that could enable me to help change the paradigm for treating ovarian cancer patients.” Just one year into her own battle with ovarian cancer, Shawver launched the Clearity Foundation, a resource that provides diagnostic services to profile cancer patient’s tumors on an individualized basis in order to determine the most viable treatment options. “In order to have a successful treatment, you have to match it specifically to each patient,” Shawver said. After the initial diagnosis, Shawver said, chemotherapy works for the majority of patients. The challenge comes later, when out of the 75 percent of ovarian cancer patients who are diagnosed in stage three or four, 80 percent relapse. “Doctors have to then decide what their next treatment regiment will be, but there’s no method available to help prioritize their options,” Shawver said. “When ovarian cancer recurs, there’s less than a 15 percent chance of successful treatment.” The Clearity Foundation is unique in that it focuses on helping women in the recurrent or refractory stage of the disease. “Many ovarian cancer foundations are focused on new cures or early detection, which, of course, we support and we hope to be put out of business by them in the future,” Shawver said. “But this is for a smaller patient population with different needs.” Since its inception, the Clearity Foundation has provided tumor “blueprints” or customized diagnostics to about 150 ovarian cancer patients across the country. The foundation keeps a database with each individual’s case information, following each one over time to help tailor their treatment and gather insight for future patients. Shawver herself has been in remission since her chemotherapy concluded in February 2007. “I have been one of the lucky ones,” she said. “My work with the foundation has made me realize how desperately we need to improve the treatment paradigm and make individual choices based on the molecular drivers of the disease rather than the one-size-fits-all approach of today.” Earlier this month, the foundation raised $30,000 in San’s Diego America’s Finest City Half-Marathon and 5K Run. Shawver said the group collaborates regularly with other organizations and medical advisory boards, but that it depends largely upon donations from the public. “It’s a huge opportunity to be involved with this, and I feel so blessed given my diagnosis in 2006,” Shawver said. “I’m very aware of the statistics, and here I am. I feel very compelled to help others through this foundation.” To learn more about The Clearity Foundation or to donate, visit www.clearityfoundation.org.