2000 Individual Investigator Award Recipient — William Irvin, MD

Project Summary

Ovarian cancer is an abnormal process within the female human body. Through a process known as “tolerance,” the host immune system does not recognize malignant ovarian cancer cells as abnormal. The cells are tolerated by the immune system and the cancer continues to grow and metastasize in an unabated fashion. The ovarian cancer vaccine trial conducted by Dr. Irvin and his colleagues is designed to activate a woman’s immune system to the malignancy, so the immune system will seek out and destroy the malignant cells. The vaccine will be used in combination with surgery and chemotherapy.

This project was made possible by a generous grant from Johnson & Johnson.

Bio

William P. Irvin, M.D., FACOG Dr. Irvin earned his medical degree from The University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He completed residency training at University of Virginia Hospital where he also served as chief resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He completed fellowship training in Gynecologic Oncology at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Irvin is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Virginia Medical Center. He is a diplomat with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Division of Gynecologic Oncology.