$1.7 MILLION AWARDED FOR CANCER PATIENT-CENTERED HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Georgia Department of Community Health and Georgia Cancer Coalition
Partner with Rome Medical Community
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) are pleased to announce the award of a Health Information Exchange Challenge Grant from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). As one of only ten national awards, the $1,686,989 grant will fund a joint health information technology (health IT) project related to a “Consumer-Mediated Health Information Exchange” for cancer patients.
“The Department is very pleased to accept this grant award,” said David Cook, DCH Commissioner. “Our collaboration with the Georgia Cancer Coalition will place Georgia at the forefront of delivering patient-centered care and improving health outcomes for our citizens.”
Based in Rome (Floyd County), Georgia, the Consumer-Mediated Health Information Exchange (CMHIE) will provide the tools to give cancer patients access to their health information and enable secure two-way communications between providers and cancer patients for outcomes reporting, subsequent treatment and other health information. The CMHIE will also allow individual health data to be sent to a cancer patient’s personal health record and permit cancer patients to decide who will have access to their information.
“We are proud that this initiative will be part of the statewide health information exchange,” said Ruth Carr, State HIT Coordinator and Senior Deputy General Counsel for DCH. “The investment of internal resources in this project by Rome’s medical community is remarkable.”
The CMHIE project will be a model that can be replicated in other medical communities in Georgia and across the country. It will involve the following members of the Rome medical community:
Harbin Clinic – a large multi-specialist physician practice
Floyd Medical Center – a non-profit community hospital
Redmond Regional Medical Center – a for-profit hospital affiliated with Hospital Corporation of America
These three organizations have a history of collaboration to improve cancer care for the Rome, Georgia community. In 2000, they formed the Rome-Floyd Cancer Initiative and in 2002, the Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition. Their involvement was also instrumental in the development of the GCC-funded Georgia Cancer Quality Information Exchange, an initiative that measures and improves the quality of cancer care in the state.
The Rome medical community has been aggressive in their adoption of electronic health records. The GCC is working with this group to connect to the statewide health information exchange. The Georgia Health Information Exchange, Inc., a non-profit organization, is the governing body for the statewide network.
“The GCC is excited to partner with DCH in this effort to bring the advantages of consumer-mediated health information exchange to the cancer patients in the Rome, Georgia community,” added Bill Todd, President of the GCC. “Rome’s cancer survivors will be among the first in the nation to have access to and control over their health information in a secure environment. The awarding of this grant is the culmination of years of collaboration among the healthcare providers in Rome and Floyd County and represents an opportunity for the community to be a leader in the state as well as in the nation in the area of health information exchange.”
$1.7 MILLION AWARDED FOR CANCER PATIENT-CENTERED HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE
ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) are pleased to announce the award of a Health Information Exchange Challenge Grant from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). As one of only ten national awards, the $1,686,989 grant will fund a joint health information technology (health IT) project related to a “Consumer-Mediated Health Information Exchange” for cancer patients.
“The Department is very pleased to accept this grant award,” said David Cook, DCH Commissioner. “Our collaboration with the Georgia Cancer Coalition will place Georgia at the forefront of delivering patient-centered care and improving health outcomes for our citizens.”
Based in Rome (Floyd County), Georgia, the Consumer-Mediated Health Information Exchange (CMHIE) will provide the tools to give cancer patients access to their health information and enable secure two-way communications between providers and cancer patients for outcomes reporting, subsequent treatment and other health information. The CMHIE will also allow individual health data to be sent to a cancer patient’s personal health record and permit cancer patients to decide who will have access to their information.
“We are proud that this initiative will be part of the statewide health information exchange,” said Ruth Carr, State HIT Coordinator and Senior Deputy General Counsel for DCH. “The investment of internal resources in this project by Rome’s medical community is remarkable.”
The CMHIE project will be a model that can be replicated in other medical communities in Georgia and across the country. It will involve the following members of the Rome medical community:
• Harbin Clinic – a large multi-specialist physician practice
• Floyd Medical Center – a non-profit community hospital
• Redmond Regional Medical Center – a for-profit hospital affiliated with Hospital Corporation of America
These three organizations have a history of collaboration to improve cancer care for the Rome, Georgia community. In 2000, they formed the Rome-Floyd Cancer Initiative and in 2002, the Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition. Their involvement was also instrumental in the development of the GCC-funded Georgia Cancer Quality Information Exchange, an initiative that measures and improves the quality of cancer care in the state.
The Rome medical community has been aggressive in their adoption of electronic health records. The GCC is working with this group to connect to the statewide health information exchange. The Georgia Health Information Exchange, Inc., a non-profit organization, is the governing body for the statewide network.
“The GCC is excited to partner with DCH in this effort to bring the advantages of consumer-mediated health information exchange to the cancer patients in the Rome, Georgia community,” added Bill Todd, President of the GCC. “Rome’s cancer survivors will be among the first in the nation to have access to and control over their health information in a secure environment. The awarding of this grant is the culmination of years of collaboration among the healthcare providers in Rome and Floyd County and represents an opportunity for the community to be a leader in the state as well as in the nation in the area of health information exchange.”
TWELVE HONORED WITH 2011 CANCER RESEARCH AWARDS
Twelve cancer researchers have been selected by the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) as recipients of the 2011 Cancer Research Awards, made possible through voluntary donations to the Georgia Cancer Research Fund on State Income Tax forms over a two-year period. Each awardee will receive $50,000, for a total of $600,000 in funding.
More than 70 proposals were received from researchers across the state; each award is matched by the awardee’s organizations. Cancer Research Awards often provide seed money for pilot studies which have the potential of attracting larger, more prestigious national grant awards. Recipients include:
Clark Atlanta University: Shafiq A. Khan, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biological Sciences;
Emory University: Christopher R. Flowers, M.D., Assistant Professor, Hematology/Medical Oncology and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Tech; Tongzhong Ju, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Biochemistry; Sumin Kang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Hematology/Medical Oncology; Erwin G. Van Meir, Professor, Neurosurgery and Hematology/Medical Oncology; and Winifred W. Thompson, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor, Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Woodruff Health Sciences Center;
Georgia Tech: Ali Adibi, Ph.D., Professor, Optics and Photonics; and Elizabeth Mynatt, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean, Computing.
Medical College of Georgia: Darren D. Browning, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biochemistry
Mercer University: Hailing Zhang, Ph.D. and Chalet Tan, Ph.D., both Assistant Professors of Pharmaceutical Sciences; and
University of Georgia: Rabindranath De La Fuente, D.V.M, MSc., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia.
Georgians can make a contribution of $1 or more on their State Income Tax form to the Georgia Cancer Research Fund, by indicating a donation amount on Line 28 on Form 500 or Line 12 on form 500 EZ.
“These research awards are an important investment in our state’s scientists,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. “With matching funds and potential for additional national funding, we are making a major contribution to cancer research in the state. We owe the program’s success to our citizens who support the drive to eradicate cancer.”
Since the 2000 inception of the State Income Tax Checkoff program, $2.75 million has been raised for cancer research, resulting in more than $5 million in cancer research funding. Seventy three awards have been made possible by these generous contributions of Georgia’s citizens. A committee comprised of leading cancer researchers and clinicians conducted the competitive, peer-reviewed grant process.
For more information on Georgia’s Income Tax Checkoff program to benefit cancer research, go to the Georgia Cancer Coalition website at www.georgiacancer.org or call 404-584-7720.
THREE COMMUNITY LEADERS JOIN BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Philip W. Tomlinson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of TSYS, Total Systems Services, headquartered in Columbus, Georgia; Dorothy Jordan, a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who founded Camp Sunshine for children with cancer; and Kathy Betty, owner and managing partner of the Atlanta Dream, will join the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Cancer Coalition effective January 1, 2011. The Board provides governance, strategic direction and fiscal oversight for the Coalition, whose mission is to reduce the number of cancer deaths in the state by accelerating cancer prevention, detection, treatment and research.
“We are thrilled to have three such talented Georgians join an already strong Board of Trustees. Each is a well-known business and civic leader respected across the state, and each has had cancer touch their lives. The staff will benefit greatly from their insights and wise counsel,” says Bill Todd, GCC President and Chief Executive Officer. “These board members bring to the table a wealth of experience in management, fundraising, building collaborations, and strategic planning. We are fortunate to have their support and involvement,” says Kathelen V. Amos, GCC Board Chairman and President of the Aflac Foundation.
SIX RESEARCHERS NAMED 2010 CANCER RESEARCH AWARDEES
Six cancer researchers have been selected by the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) as recipients of the 2010 Cancer Research Awards, made possible through voluntary donations to the Georgia Cancer Research Fund on State Income Tax forms.
Awardees, selected from twelve proposals, include:
Khalid Salaita, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Emory University, studying Notch signaling in breast cancer. This grant will ultimately help generate preliminary data critical to applying for National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants.
Yuan Liu, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, Division of Cellular Molecular Biology and Physiology at Georgia State University, studying the inflammatory response in colon cancer.
Ravi Bellamkonda, Ph.D., a GCC Scholar and a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech, studying how to mark brain tumor margins using a dye visible to the naked eye, so as to provide accurate visual cues to the surgeon during surgery.
Muthusamy Thangaraju, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Georgia, who will use these funds to continue to study breast cancer biology in the area of tumor suppressor genes and signaling mechanisms related to breast cancer.
Robert McKallip, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Immunology in the Division of Basic Medical Sciences at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, who is studying new adjuvant therapies for treating malignant melanoma. This grant will help develop the data necessary to support his study’s hypothesis, thus strengthening his proposal for an NIH award.
Zachary Wood, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Georgia in Athens, studying how to slow metastasis and prevent drug resistance in colorectal and lung cancer. Preliminary data from this study will make a grant application to NIH more competitive.
Each scientist will receive a one-year, $50,000 grant. This is the first year that Cancer Research Awards were made available to study all types of cancer. Legislation passed in 2009 removed prior restrictions to research in the areas of breast, prostate, or ovarian cancer.
“These research awards are important to our state’s scientists,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. “It is a testament to the growing focus on cancer research among Georgia’s clinical and research investigators. We owe the program’s success to our citizens who support the drive to eradicate cancer.”
Since the 2000 inception of the State Income Tax Checkoff program, $2.75 million has been raised for cancer research, which is matched by each researcher’s organization. Sixty-one awards have been made possible by these generous contributions of Georgia’s citizens. A committee comprised of leading cancer researchers and clinicians conducted the competitive, peer-reviewed grant process.
For more information on Georgia’s Income Tax Checkoff program to benefit cancer research, go to the Georgia Cancer Coalition website at www.georgiacancer.org or call 404-584-7720.
KATHELEN AMOS NAMED CHAIRMAN OF GCC BOARD
January 4, 2010 −Kathelen V. Amos, President of the Aflac Foundation, and an ardent supporter of pediatric cancer programs in Georgia and around the country, has been elected to Chair the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Cancer Coalition for 2010-12, and has been appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of Emory University.
Amos has been a Georgia Cancer Coalition board member since 2002, when she was Executive Vice President, Director of Corporate Communications and Deputy Counsel at Aflac, which she joined in 1985. Under her direction, Aflac launched their award-winning Aflac duck advertising campaign. She retired from Aflac in 2005, but retained her role as president of the Aflac Foundation and as the relationship advisor to the Aflac Cancer Center. She works with her husband, Dan, on his personal philanthropic endeavors and also serves as the president of the Paul S. Amos Educational Foundation.
In 1995, she initiated Aflac’s unprecedented charitable contribution to the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. To date, that support has grown to more than $50 million. Aflac’s commitment is accompanied by the personal involvement and support of their executive management, sales agents and employees. Monetary endowments for specific programs have also been funded as “chairs,” including the Kathelen V. Amos Children’s Chair for Cancer Survivorship.
In Columbus, the Amos’ received the American Cancer Society’s “Visionary” award in 2007 in recognition of Aflac’s three major cancer research fundraising events in Muscogee County. She was also named “Volunteer of the Year” by Columbus Technical College in 2007 in recognition of her work as co-chair of their “Tomorrow’s Workforce…Today” campaign. Kathelen is a member of the board of trustees of Emory University, Brookstone School, the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley and Columbus Bank and Trust. Aflac has also supported the John B. Amos Cancer Center, a new library, Columbus State University and more in their home community.
Aflac also made major commitments to cancer research as a Founding Sponsor of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR); sponsor of the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University for their triple negative breast cancer research symposium; donor to Curing Kids Cancer; and generous contributor to numerous children’s cancer centers in Albany, New York; Nebraska; Los Angeles and San Diego, California and Southwest Florida.
“The Georgia Cancer Coalition is honored to have the business acumen, leadership, and personal commitment of Kathelen Amos as Chair. We look forward to making a significant impact in the state of Georgia under her direction,” says William J. Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition leads Georgia's comprehensive cancer initiative, uniting people and organizations to work together to save lives and reduce suffering from cancer. As a public-private partnership, the Coalition works to strengthen existing cancer-related programs and create new initiatives to accelerate cancer prevention, early detection, research, and treatment. By providing assistance and guidance in the use of Georgia's resources, the Georgia Cancer Coalition hopes to reduce cancer mortality and incidence.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION NAMES 19 DISTINGUISHED CANCER SCHOLARS
ATLANTA (June 30, 2009) The Georgia Cancer Coalition has selected 19 awardees for its prestigious Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program. Distinguished Cancer Scholars receive from $50,000 to $150,000 in funding annually for five years to support their research. Many are recruited from out-of-state to work in Georgia’s research universities, medical schools, and hospitals. The Coalition’s goal is to strengthen the state’s research talent, capacity, infrastructure and funding. With the ninth round of awards completed, the number of active Distinguished Scholars stands at 119.
Appointments include: 7 from Emory University; 1 from Georgia Institute of Technology, 1 from Georgia State University, and 1 from St. Joseph’s Health System in Atlanta; 1 from the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon; 3 from Medical College of Georgia in Augusta; and 5 from the University of Georgia in Athens. Sponsoring institutions provide matching funding.
Begun in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is an investment in Georgia’s future as a national leader in cancer control. The Scholars’ history of grants, publications and patents as well as their potential for attracting future funding is considered. In fiscal year 2008, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $47 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia; over the program’s 8-year history, scholars have generated more than $200 million in funding.
Scholar selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the Coalition, the research priorities of the National Cancer Institute, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Applications are reviewed by a scientific review committee and an advisory review committee appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s research universities. Members rank candidates according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria.
“The National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of cancer. These scientists and clinicians play an important role in positioning Georgia as a national leader in cancer research,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. The mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model. For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
GCC HELPS EMORY RECRUIT 5 DISTINGUISHED CANCER SCHOLARS
Five scientists have been recruited to Emory University in Atlanta with support from the Georgia Cancer Coalition through its Distinguished Cancer Clinician and Scientist Program for 2008-09.
Walter J. Curran, M.D., was recruited from Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sharmila Makhija, M.D., transferred from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; both Suresh S. Ramalingam, M.D., and Tofeek Kunle Owonikoko, M.D., Ph.D., came from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School; and Omer Kucuk, M.D., moved from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. .
Dr. Curran is serving as the Lawrence W. Davis Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University, Service Chief of Radiation Oncology at the Emory Clinic and Chief Medical Officer of the Winship Cancer Institute (WCI). He is Group Chairman and Principal Investigator of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), the largest research organization in the world conducting clinical and translational research for patients with malignancies of the brain, head and neck, lung, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary system. He will lead a coordinated program of clinical trials testing new and potentially better methods of delivering radiation in conjunction with new anti-cancer medications.
Dr. Makhija joins Emory’s Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics as Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. An active member of NCI’s Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), Dr. Makhija will help Emory develop innovative translational research and training programs in women’s cancer. Trained in gynecological oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Dr. Makhija was selected for the prestigious Women’s Reproductive Health Research Scholar Program (WRHR). Her research focused on chemoresistance for ovarian cancer and gene therapy strategies for gynecologic cancers. While at UAB, she developed research links with India, allowing for the enrollment of Indian women with HIV into a group trial on cancer screening techniques for women with HIV.
Dr. Ramalingam has been at Emory since 2007 as Acting Associate Professor of Hematology-Oncology and Director of the Translational Lung Cancer Program. He brings strong expertise in developing novel therapies for lung cancer, novel anti-cancer agent development and conducting clinical trials to improve outcomes for lung cancer patients. He’s also done extensive research on the treatment of elderly lung cancer patients. He is a member of the Lung and Aerodigestive Tract Oncology Program, chair of the Data Monitoring Committee, and a leader in the Clinical Trials Working Group of the Lung and Aerodigestive Malignancies Program at WCI.
Dr. Kucuk is Director of Emory’s Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program. An internationally recognized expert in cancer prevention, nutrition and chemoprevention, Dr. Kucuk has conducted pioneering studies with lycopene and soy isoflavones in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. With colleagues, he was the first to discover that soy isoflavones sensitize a variety of cancer cells --prostate, breast, pancreas, lung, renal and head and neck—to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. At Emory, he will continue his translational research into nutritional cancer prevention and conduct studies in patients with prostate, bladder and renal cancer, as well as other pre-malignant and malignant conditions.
Dr. Owonikoko will direct Lung Cancer Care at Emory Crawford Long Hospital, seeing patients with thoracic malignancies and solid tumors. He will continue his translational research in the biology of lung cancer, developing novel methods for its treatment and playing a central role in the early clinical trial program for tobacco-related cancers. He is scheduled to spend two months at the NCI Cancer Therapeutics Evaluation Program, working closely with investigators to identify novel anti-cancer agents.
The Coalition cooperates with Georgia’s research universities, medical schools, hospitals and nursing programs in the process of selecting scholars, with the goal of strengthening the state’s research talent, capacity and infrastructure. Since its inception in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has named 118 Distinguished Cancer Scholars. Scholar funding is an investment not only in Georgia’s future as a national leader in cancer control, but also is valuable in attracting increased funding to Georgia for cancer research. For starters, the Coalition contracts with the sponsoring institution to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match. The review committee examines the scholars’ history of grants, publications and patents, and considers the researcher’s potential for attracting future funding. In fiscal year 2007, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $47 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia. Selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the Coalition, the research priorities of the NCI, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Each application is reviewed by both an external scientific review committee and an advisory review committee, appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s research universities. Members rank scholars according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria.
“The National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of cancer. These scientists play an important role in positioning Georgia as a national leader in cancer research,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION SELECTS MEDICITY HIE PLATFORM TO POWER GEORGIA CANCER QUALITY INFORMATION EXCHANGE
SALT LAKE CITY-(Business Wire)-March 2, 2009 - Bill Todd, President and CEO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC), who will speak at HIMSS on April 4 in Chicago, Ill., announced today that the Coalition has selected Medicity as the technology platform for the Georgia Cancer Quality Information Exchange. The Exchange will serve as a trusted third party in the state to acquire, analyze and report de-identified patient data around quality measures from providers and hospitals that deliver cancer care. The Exchange will leverage technology to efficiently and cost-effectively measure the quality of patient-centered cancer care, improve patient outcomes and enhance adherence to industry standards through performance measurement and process change.
A comprehensive review of RFPs was conducted by the GCC’s Technology Advisory Board whose members include hospital CIOs, representatives from ACoS (The American College of Surgeons) and CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology). ”We selected Medicity because they were the only vendor to supply these vital elements: 1) a culture of flexibility, which is key to building a sustainable business model; 2) an adaptable, scalable and secure platform; and 3) an HIE business model that aligns with our vision to improve quality of cancer care as well as support translational research,” said Bill Todd, President and CEO of the Coalition. “Typically, discoveries around cancer care can take up to 15 years to go from the bench to the bedside. By leveraging Medicity's proven HIE technology, we can share evidence-based medicine in community care settings – where 85 percent of cancer care takes place – as well as communicate real-world results to research organizations to accelerate valuable research.”
The GCC will deploy the Exchange in three phases over approximately 9-12 months. The project, which began in February 2009, will involve three initial Exchange Members (provider sites), and will include data analysis, development of the HIE design, and deployment. The project will also integrate the de-identified patient data into the Exchange's analytics dashboard solution for measurement of provider and hospital performance, based on 52 quality-of-care indicators for Georgia identified by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its report, Assessing the Quality of Cancer Care: An Approach to Measurement in Georgia. Upon successful completion of initial phases, the GCC plans to roll out the Exchange to other cancer care providers across the state, and finalize its sustainability model and business plan.
Added Todd, “Medicity's HIE platform provides the unique ability to meet our providers' needs, wherever they are in the spectrum of electronic medical record (EMR) adoption and clinical data exchange. For example, the Exchange will be able to pull de-identified patient data from multiple hospitals, physicians and other ancillary clinical data sources and integrate that data, regardless of its origin, directly into our core platform; thus, enabling state-wide interoperability.”
Medicity serves as the technology platform of choice for local, regional and state-level HIEs, including Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN), Mississippi Coastal Health Information Exchange (MCHIE) and California RHIO (CalRHIO), and has shown proven success with the National Health Information Network (NHIN). In addition to HIE’s, Medicity is the leader in delivering collaborative care and clinical interoperability solutions to more than 500 hospitals and hundreds of thousands of physicians across the nation. The company has established thousands of data interfaces to more than 150 unique healthcare information technology (HIT) applications from every major HIT vendor and has integrated with more than 25 unique EMR systems.
“Medicity enables HIE and hospital customers to deliver seamless access to patient information stored in disparate systems across multiple care locations, resulting in improved patient care and reduced healthcare costs,” said Kipp Lassetter, M.D., C.E.O. of Medicity. “We are pleased to partner with the Georgia Cancer Coalition to launch what we believe is the first evidence-based, statewide cancer quality measurement program in the country. This ground-breaking initiative provides a replicable model for other states or regions seeking to establish similar HIEs.”
GEORGIANS FUND AWARDS THROUGH STATE INCOME TAX CHECK-OFF PROGRAM
Georgia Cancer Coalition Selects 8 Scientists
For Prestigious 2009 Cancer Research Awards
The Georgia Cancer Coalition has announced the recipients of eight new Cancer Research Awards for 2009, made possible by Georgians who contribute to the Georgia Cancer Research Fund on their state income tax returns. Awardees come from across the state, including Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta; the University of Georgia in Athens; Memorial University Medical Center (MUMC) and Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah as well as Mercer University, Atlanta campus. Each awardee will receive $50,000 for their innovative research in breast, prostate and ovarian cancer.
The 2009 Cancer Research Awardees include:
From Emory: Wen-Chin Huang, Ph.D., Instructor, Urology; Daquing Wu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Urology; Xueyuan Dong, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Hematology/Oncology; and Mark M. Goodman, Ph.D., Professor, Radiology. From MUMC/Mercer in Savannah: Nagendra Ningaraj, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Basic Medical Science, and from Mercer University’s Atlanta campus: Martin D’Souza, Ph.D., Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences. From UGA: Shelley Hooks, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Science; and from Georgia Tech: Michelle Dawson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
Fifty-one researchers submitted proposals for the 2009 awards. Reviewers include nationally recognized scientists and clinicians from across the country.
The State Income Tax Check-Off Program was initiated by the Georgia State Legislature in 2000, specifically to support scientists in Georgia doing research into the causes, treatments, and cures for breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer. Since that time, more than $2 million dollars has been awarded to 54 cancer researchers through this competitive, peer-reviewed grant process. Each dollar awarded is matched by the scientist’s university, resulting in a $4 million impact on cancer research in the state. Cancer Research Awards provide seed money for pilot studies which have the potential of attracting larger, more prestigious national grant awards.
Georgians can make a contribution of $1 or more on their state income tax form to the Georgia Cancer Research Fund, by checking box #29 on Form 500 or box # 12 on form 500 EZ.
We are indebted to those citizens who choose to contribute to this valuable effort. The increasing number of researchers who apply for grants indicates that we are making great progress in developing interest in cancer research among the state’s scientific community,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. “Research is essential in the war on cancer.”
For more information on the Georgia Income Tax Check Off program and a form to instruct your tax preparer to make a donation, go to the Georgia Cancer Coalition website at www.georgiacancer.org or call 404-584-7720.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION HELPS EMORY UNIVERSITY RECRUIT LEADING SCIENTISTS
Five scientists have been recruited to Emory University in Atlanta with support from the Georgia Cancer Coalition through its Distinguished Cancer Clinician and Scientist Program for 2008-09. Walter J. Curran, M.D., was recruited from Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sharmila Makhija, M.D., transferred from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; both Suresh S. Ramalingam, M.D., and Tofeek Kunle Owonikoko, M.D., Ph.D., came from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School; and Omer Kucuk, M.D., moved from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. .
Dr. Curran is serving as the Lawrence W. Davis Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University, Service Chief of Radiation Oncology at the Emory Clinic and Chief Medical Officer of the Winship Cancer Institute (WCI). He is Group Chairman and Principal Investigator of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), the largest research organization in the world conducting clinical and translational research for patients with malignancies of the brain, head and neck, lung, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary system. He will lead a coordinated program of clinical trials testing new and potentially better methods of delivering radiation in conjunction with new anti-cancer medications.
Dr. Makhija joins Emory’s Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics as Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. An active member of NCI’s Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), Dr. Makhija will help Emory develop innovative translational research and training programs in women’s cancer. Trained in gynecological oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Dr. Makhija was selected for the prestigious Women’s Reproductive Health Research Scholar Program (WRHR). Her research focused on chemoresistance for ovarian cancer and gene therapy strategies for gynecologic cancers. While at UAB, she developed research links with India, allowing for the enrollment of Indian women with HIV into a group trial on cancer screening techniques for women with HIV.
Dr. Ramalingam has been at Emory since 2007 as Acting Associate Professor of Hematology -Oncology and Director of the Translational Lung Cancer Program. He brings strong expertise in developing novel therapies for lung cancer, novel anti-cancer agent development and conducting clinical trials to improve outcomes for lung cancer patients. He’s also done extensive research on the treatment of elderly lung cancer patients. He is a member of the Lung and Aerodigestive Tract Oncology Program, chair of the Data Monitoring Committee, and a leader in the Clinical Trials Working Group of the Lung and Aerodigestive Malignancies Program at WCI.
Dr. Kucuk is Director of Emory’s Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program. An internationally recognized expert in cancer prevention, nutrition and chemoprevention, Dr. Kucuk has conducted pioneering studies with lycopene and soy isoflavones in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. With colleagues, he was the first to discover that soy isoflavones sensitize a variety of cancer cells --prostate, breast, pancreas, lung, renal and head and neck—to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. At Emory, he will continue his translational research into nutritional cancer prevention and conduct studies in patients with prostate, bladder and renal cancer, as well as other pre-malignant and malignant conditions.
Dr. Owonikoko will direct Lung Cancer Care at Emory Crawford Long Hospital, seeing patients with thoracic malignancies and solid tumors. He will continue his translational research in the biology of lung cancer, developing novel methods for its treatment and playing a central role in the early clinical trial program for tobacco-related cancers. He is scheduled to spend two months at the NCI Cancer Therapeutics Evaluation Program, working closely with investigators to identify novel anti-cancer agents.
The Coalition cooperates with Georgia’s research universities, medical schools, hospitals and nursing programs in the process of selecting scholars, with the goal of strengthening the state’s research talent, capacity and infrastructure. Since its inception in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has named 118 Distinguished Cancer Scholars. Scholar funding is an investment not only in Georgia’s future as a national leader in cancer control, but also is valuable in attracting increased funding to Georgia for cancer research. For starters, the Coalition contracts with the sponsoring institution to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match. The review committee examines the scholars’ history of grants, publications and patents, and considers the researcher’s potential for attracting future funding. In fiscal year 2007, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $47 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia.
Selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the Coalition, the research priorities of the NCI, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Each application is reviewed by both an external scientific review committee and an advisory review committee, appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s research universities. Members rank scholars according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria.
“The National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of cancer. These scientists play an important role in positioning Georgia as a national leader in cancer research,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. The mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model. For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org
MCG'S DRS. COWELL AND DING NAMED GEORGIA CANCER COALITION SCHOLARS
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Drs. John K. Cowell and Han-Fei Ding, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia Cancer Center, have been named Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholars.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition program helps recruit leading clinicians and scientists to Georgia who are engaged in promising areas of cancer research.
Dr. Cowell, the Cancer Center's associate director for basic science and professor of pathology in the School of Medicine, came to MCG in July from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., where he was chair of the Department of Cancer Genetics. Dr. Ding, associate professor of pathology in the School of Medicine, came to MCG in May from the University of Toledo College of Medicine.
Dr. Cowell studies the genetics that enable cancer to start and spread in pediatric and adult brain tumors, leukemia and breast cancer. Dr. Ding studies cancer stem cells and oncogenic signaling pathways in the development of neuroblastoma and malignancies of the immune system.
Dr. Cowell was the founding director of the molecular oncology research unit at the Institute of Child Health in London, a senior scientist at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, director of the Center for Molecular Genetics and Neuro-Oncology Research Program at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and a professor at Cleveland State University. He has served on the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Genetics Study Section since 2003. He also has served on a number of other NCI panels reviewing large Program Project grants in his areas of expertise as well as an NCI Brain SPORE Review Panel in February 2002. He has been a member of numerous NIH Special Emphasis Panels reviewing studies in leukemia, brain tumors, children's cancers and genomics. For eight years, he served as genetics program leader for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute's Cancer Center Support Grant. He is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research and The American Society of Human Genetics and a fellow of The Royal College of Pathologists in the United Kingdom.
He earned a Ph.D. in genetics and doctor of science degree from the University of Sheffield in Great Britain. Dr. Cowell completed a research fellowship in cellular pathology at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now called Cancer Research UK) and Columbia University in New York.
Dr. Ding, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology of the MCG School of Medicine, earned his bachelor of medicine degree (M.D. equivalent) from Anhui Medical College in China. He earned a Ph.D. in basic biomedical sciences at the University of South Alabama in Mobile and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He was an instructor at Dana Farber and Harvard for five years before moving to the Medical College of Ohio (now the University of Toledo College of Medicine).
His awards include the Richard A. Smith Prize for Outstanding Research at Dana-Farber and the Howard Temin Award from the National Cancer Institute. His memberships include the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF SJ/C LEWIS CANCER & RESEARCH PAVILION
Dr. Howard A. Zaren, Medical Director of the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System in Savannah, has been named a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar. The Coalition’s goal in attracting leading clinicians and scientists to Georgia is to strengthen the state’s research talent, capacity, infrastructure and funding.
“This is the first time the Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program has selected candidates who are leaders in cancer control in community health systems,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC). “We hope this will be a bridge to our academic health centers and a new model that will help us move forward in our goal of expediting the translation of research.”
Dr. Zaren is SJ/C’s principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) pilot project. He was recruited from Chicago, Illinois, where he chaired the Department of Surgery at John H. Stronger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County and served as Principal Investigator for the Minority Based Community Clinical Oncology Program. He is a professor of Oncology at the University of Illinois and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
“The Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion is honored to have Dr. Zaren selected to this most distinguished position. It further solidifies our position as a leading research oriented community health system,” states Paul P. Hinchey, SJ/C President & CEO. “We’re already putting Georgia on the map by building a national model for cancer care through our NCI pilot program participation. Our partnership with the GCC further enhances our ability to meet this goal. We are very pleased that they have chosen to recognize Dr. Zaren’s outstanding career in this way.”
Since its inception in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has named 118 Distinguished Scholars. Scholar funding is an investment not only in Georgia’s future as a national leader in cancer control, but also is valuable in attracting increased funding to Georgia for cancer research. In fiscal year 2007, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $47 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia; over the program’s 7-year history, scholars have generated more than $200 million in funding.
Scholar selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the Coalition, the research priorities of the National Cancer Institute, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Each application is reviewed by both an external scientific review committee and an advisory review committee, appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s research universities.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. The mission of the GCC is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia. For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
ROSWELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH’S FALL COOKING DAY
Fall Cooking Day at Roswell United Methodist Church (RUMC) on Saturday, October 4, at 10 am will be more than good food and fellowship. Cooks will come together to prepare and freeze meals for the congregation’s cancer patients and their families, following healthy recipes designed for people facing treatment who need sustenance to feel better and stay stronger.
The event is a small but important part of RUMC’s Cancer Ministry, one of Georgia’s successful faith-based initiatives supported by the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
“When a community of faith organizes to support their congregants with cancer, it is overtly and intentionally an act of faith. By putting that faith into action to care for the whole person – physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually –congregations have found great meaning,” says Bill Todd, President and CEO of the Coalition.
One of the oldest churches in Roswell, RUMC already has a number of ministries to support their congregants. One provides transportation to medical appointments, with access to a wheelchair accessible van; another offers lay and clergy hospital and home visitation for the ill; His Hands ministry volunteers give their time and skills to help families in need with minor repairs, carpentry and lawn mowing; and the Prayers & Squares prayer quilt is a tangible way of offering prayer, with each tied knot representing a prayer specifically said for the recipient. The Fall Cooking Day is part of the Share a Dish ministry.
“We are able to offer the Cancer Ministry using all the support programs we already have at RUMC. We just needed to develop guidelines on how to engage with them,” says Cindy Hamrin of Roswell, a former BellSouth executive who volunteers her service as the Cancer Ministry’s program director.
With more than 6600 members, RUMC has many congregants whose lives have been impacted by cancer. “When families are going through a time of crisis, they often turn to their church,” says the Rev. Nancy Folsom Lane, Pastor. “The Georgia Cancer Coalition’s support has helped us to make cancer services a priority,” she adds.
When Rev. Lane identifies a family in need, she sends them to Cindy Hamrin. Cindy has four trained volunteer assessors whose role is to meet with the family and look at their needs holistically, and then put the resources in place to meet those needs.
Assessor Brenda Hager of Alpharetta brings experience as an oncology nurse. “I was hoping that I could share my knowledge and help my congregation,” she says.
Becky Boyd Caruso of Roswell is participating in memory of her sister, Evelyn Clarke, who died of colon cancer. “She taught me so much about living with cancer that I wanted to share this with others,” she says.
Other assessors are Sharon Erdman of Roswell and Susan Brown of Marietta, all RUMC members. Susan, a 10-year breast cancer survivor, knows the feelings of isolation, anxiety and the loss of hope that many cancer patients experience. “I want to bring hope and comfort to those in need,” she adds.
Cindy took a key role in jump-starting the cancer ministry in memory of her friend and former colleague, the late Susan Hall Nix. Susan worked with Cindy at BellSouth and when she was dying, Cindy was one of the many friends and family who cared for her.
“I don’t think anyone can say that they are not touched by cancer,” Cindy says. “In the last month of her life, Susan asked me to find out more about the cancer ministry. I love my church, so I thought this was an incredible opportunity to honor Susan’s memory and be of service. I also lost my father to colon cancer,” she adds.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition, whose mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths and improve cancer care in Georgia, is promoting a faith-based initiative or Cancer Ministry across the state of Georgia. The goal of this non-denominational program is to encourage congregations to develop volunteer programs to help meet the needs of families in a cancer crisis.
Every congregation and every community is different in their faith, their culture and their congregation’s needs.The Coalition believes that many faith communities throughout the state have the human resources necessary to create a ministry that can help families dealing with cancer to handle the daily necessities of life.
For information, go to www.georgiacancer.org or contact Angie Patterson at apatterson@georgiacancer.org.
GCC NAMES AMY MOORE MANAGER OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Amy C. Moore, Ph.D, a Postdoctoral Fellow in cancer research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, has joined the Georgia Cancer Coalition as Manager of Research Programs. Dr. Moore will oversee the operation and evaluation of Coalition research programs including the Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program; Cancer Research Awards; and the BioRepository Alliance of Georgia for Oncology.
Dr. Moore earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School before coming to Vanderbilt University in 2004.
She recently moved to Decatur with her husband, Dr. Martin Moore, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Emory University.
“Research is the backbone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s strategy to move Georgia toward the top ranks in cancer care,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are delighted to have someone of Dr. Moore’s caliber and experience to serve as our liaison with Georgia’s academic universities and medial professionals,” he adds.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition leads Georgia's comprehensive cancer initiative, uniting people and organizations to work together to save lives and reduce suffering from cancer. As a public-private partnership, the Coalition works to strengthen existing cancer-related programs and create new initiatives to accelerate cancer prevention, early detection, research, and treatment. By providing assistance and guidance in the use of Georgia's resources, the Georgia Cancer Coalition hopes to reduce cancer mortality and incidence. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model.
For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION NAMES TWO DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Two scientists in Georgia State University’s Department of Chemistry have been selected to be among the 23 Scholars named by the Georgia Cancer Coalition for its Distinguished Cancer Clinician and Scientist program for 2008-09. Zhen Huang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and Donald Hamelberg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, will receive $100,000 and $50,000 respectively each year for 5 years, to support their research efforts. The Coalition selects scientists engaged in the most promising areas of cancer research.
Dr. Huang is an internationally recognized nucleic acid chemist. It is hoped that his research will advance technologies for cancer detection and diagnosis, provide insights into cancer mechanisms, and lead to the design or potential cancer-fighting pharmaceuticals. Dr. Huang was recruited in 2004 from Brooklyn College, New York, where he was an Associate Professor. He did a Research Fellowship at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry in China and a Post-doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned his Ph.D. in Bio-organic Chemistry at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland.
Dr. Hamelberg is a Georgia State University alumnus. After earning both his M.S. and Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry at Georgia State University, he moved to Chicago for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Illinois. Subsequently, he did postgraduate research as a Fellow at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute of the University of California. The goal of Dr. Hamelberg’s research is to gain a basic understanding of aberrant cellular processes in cancer and to develop therapeutics that can suppress tumor formation.
“Both of these Scholars are crucial members of the Center for Biotechnology and Drug Design,” says Dr. Lauren Adamson, Dean, College of Arts and Science.
“Their interdisciplinary research will involve not only Georgia State’s departments of Biology, Chemistry and Computer Science, but will also facilitate greater collaboration with oncologists at Grady Hospital and Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute,”
The Coalition cooperates with Georgia’s research universities, medical schools, hospitals and nursing programs in the process of selecting scholars, with the goal of strengthening the state’s research talent, capacity and infrastructure.
Since its inception in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has named 118 Distinguished Scholars; ten are at Georgia State University. The Scholar funding is an investment not only in Georgia’s future as a national leader in cancer control, but also is valuable in attracting increased funding to Georgia for cancer research. For starters, the Coalition contracts with the sponsoring institution to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match. The review committee examines the scholars’ history of grants, publications and patents, and considers the researcher’s potential for attracting future funding. In fiscal year 2007, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $47 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia. Scholar selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the Coalition, the research priorities of the National Cancer Institute, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Each application is reviewed by both an external scientific review committee and an advisory review committee, appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s research universities. Members rank scholars according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria.
"The National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of cancer. These scientists play an important role in positioning Georgia as a national leader in cancer research,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
THREE TRUSTEES ADDED TO GCC BOARD
Frank Barron of Rome; Philip Wilheit, Sr., of Gainesville; and Douglas Ivester of Atlanta have been added to the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Cancer Coalition which provides the nonprofit organization with governance, strategic direction and fiscal oversight. The mission of the Coalition is to reduce the number of cancer deaths in the state by accelerating cancer prevention, detection, treatment and research.
Frank Barron is retired as Vice President of Rome Coca-Cola Bottling Company and serves on the board of The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, the Carter Center, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Berry College (Trustee Emeritus), and the Governor’s State Workforce Investment Board.
Dougles Ivester is President of Deer Run Investments, LLC. He is retired from The Coca-Cola Company where he was the tenth chairman of the board and chief executive officer. He is a member of the board of directors of Sun Trust Bank, Atlanta; Sun Trust Banks of Georgia; and S1 Corporation; a trustee of Emory University; Chairman of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center; and a board member of Brenau University and the Woodruff Arts Center.
Philip Wilheit is President and Managing Partner of Wilheit Packaging. He served as Chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 2001 and currently serves on the boards of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Commission for a New Georgia. In Gainesville, he has chaired the Gainesville/Hall Development Authority for the last 30 years; as is also past Chairman of the Board of the Gainesville Bank and Trust and the former GBT Bankshares. He has provided leadership for the Northeast Georgia Health System board for 20 years, as Vice Chairman; Chairman; and currently, Chairman Emeritus.
“The Georgia Cancer Coalition Board felt that trustee representation was needed from Northeast and Northwest Georgia as well as increased representation in Atlanta. These business and community leaders bring a great deal of expertise to the Board and a sincere interest in the well-being of their individual communities and the state of Georgia,” says William J. Todd, President and CEO, Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition leads Georgia's comprehensive cancer initiative, uniting people and organizations to work together to save lives and reduce suffering from cancer. As a public-private partnership, the Coalition works to strengthen existing cancer-related programs and create new initiatives to accelerate cancer prevention, early detection, research, and treatment. By providing assistance and guidance in the use of Georgia's resources, the Georgia Cancer Coalition hopes to reduce cancer mortality and incidence.
The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model.
For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
FAITHWORKS BRINGS CANCER MINISTRY TO SE GA
Having cancer is enough of a burden. But it is often only the start of problems faced by people who get this scary diagnosis as well as their families. They may not know where to go for medical help. They may have financial issues and need help filing for insurance coverage. They may not be able to work. They will require transportation to medical appointments. And all the day-to-day activities—cooking, cleaning, transporting kids to school and sports, home care and taking care of pets – often take a back seat to the major issue at hand, treating cancer. But, those things still need to be handled.
Families in Glynn County and surrounding areas experiencing a cancer crisis may find a welcome resource in the new Cancer Ministry being implemented by FaithWorks, with support from a grant from the Georgia Cancer Coalition funded by the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation. In Southeast Georgia, this is no small task. In the 10-county area, approximately 2,000 people are diagnosed with cancer annually.
“We are expanding our ministry by developing a Cancer Network of Hope,” says Reverend Doctor Wright A. Culpepper, Executive Director of FaithWorks, founded in 1995 to serve Glynn County. “The Cancer Ministry’s focus is on cancer prevention, early detection and on helping to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional and informational needs of those with cancer and their caregivers.”
Services are available to people of all faiths. The ministry is working with several congregations, each providing volunteers for various teams who work together in one program. “Our focus is not on proselytizing,” says Rev. Culpepper, “but on helping all God’s children as they experience their cancer journey.”
Planning began in January, and the program was launched in April with a Summit in Brunswick where representatives from 20 churches were oriented by the Georgia Cancer Coalition. Participants included ministers, oncology physicians, survivors, caregivers and volunteers. Director of the Cancer Network of Hope is Debbie Cauthen.
Anyone can initiate a call for help. An assessor is then assigned to meet with the family to understand their situation and needs. That information is reviewed and communicated to committee leaders who assign tasks to their volunteers.
Resources include people who make meals, provide transportation, make home repairs, do housecleaning, walk dogs, play music, make phone calls, send cards, refer to support groups, offer prayer, and much more.
Some unique aspects of the FaithWorks Cancer Ministry include:
• Prayer Shawls: Every Sunday, members of a church in Southeast Georgia say a blessing over prayer shawls for the recipient. Some shawls are purchased, while others are hand made by local people who have provided knitted and crocheted items for people in hospitals and nursing homes.
• ProPage Prayer: A network of people who have ProPage cell and paging services in Southeast Georgia have signed up to be “Prayer Warriors,” on call to pray for people as they undergo chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. The “O for 1,000 tongues to pray” program participants will demonstrate faith in the power of prayer.
• Karen’s House of Hope: With excess funds from those collected to help the late Karen Milburn, who died in the early 1990s of breast cancer, a house adjacent to the Southeast Georgia Health System has been purchased and will open in June. The space will provide offices for the Cancer Ministry, meeting room for cancer support groups, and bedrooms for cancer (and other) patients and their families who may be traveling long distances for their care.
“We have our first guests in Karen's House of Hope! He is a gentleman who lives more than an hour away from Brunswick. He and his wife come and stay with us Monday through Thursday nights while he gets his 47 radiation treatments. We figure that they are saving $2500 to $3000 in gas alone,” says Debbie Cauthen.
“The Cancer Ministry is testimony to Southeast Georgia’s cooperative spirit of community to respond to a challenge,” says Rev. Culpepper. “Glynn County has about 75,000 residents. We seek to focus primarily on the 50,000 that are not connected to a church. Ultimately, we would like to expand to support the needs of cancer survivors in our neighboring counties as well.”
The Georgia Cancer Coalition has helped support Cancer Ministries throughout the state. The program is non-denominational; any religious organization is welcome to initiate a cancer support program. For information on the Cancer Ministry program, contact Angie Patterson at APatterson@georgiacancer.org or 404-584-0657.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PERRY PILOTS CANCER MINISTRY
Members of First Baptist Church of Perry who are diagnosed with cancer are literally and figuratively “covered” with hope thanks to a pilot program in cooperation with Georgia Cancer Coalition. Through the Cancer Ministry, the church is developing teams of volunteers who assess the family’s needs and provide help—with meals, transportation, and household work—as well as hope.
“At one time, our list of members suffering from illness had 23 names of people who had cancer. It’s the joy of a pastor’s heart to see people willing to minister to others in their time of sickness, especially from this destructive disease,” says Dr. Wayne Edwards, interim pastor. “We can’t cure cancer, but we can help each person. Already, I have seen the Cancer Ministry bring us closer together as a caring, supportive community,” he adds.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition assisted First Baptist by providing them with a framework for a faith-based initiative and hands-on training for interested volunteers. Funding came from a grant from the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation.
“Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Georgia. In Houston County, about 1,850 new cancer cases are diagnosed per year and more than 880 people die from this disease,” says Bill Todd, President and CEO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. “We’re delighted that the Georgia Cancer Coalition was able to serve Houston County with such an innovative program made possible by a public-private partnership.”
First Baptist Church’s congregation has embraced the Cancer Ministry, providing people who have cancer with lovely gift baskets, a personal note of encouragement from a cancer survivor, and a fleece throw monogrammed with the word hope that blankets the recipients with uplifting encouragement.
Already, twelve baskets have been distributed. A circle of hope volunteers joined hands and hearts around the blankets, dedicating themselves to the task at hand and uplifting each blanket and the person the blankets would cover.
The church has committed computer equipment and space, called the hope resource library, adjacent to the sanctuary. Cancer resource information is available there and volunteers can meet with families to listen to their concerns. The office is open Wednesday and Sunday, and other times by appointment.
At the core of the volunteers who have supported this mission are Debi Hutchens and Ruth Tarpley. The women were close friends who met while working for the school system. Debi knew she would need help with the ministry because she is physically limited from complications following four heart bypasses. Ruth, who also volunteers as the church’s Women’s Mission Director, was more than happy to help.
“I saw that cancer had such a major impact on our church members,” she says.“So many women I have known were diagnosed with breast cancer, and some have since passed away. Several members have been caregivers for their relatives as well,” she adds. “I was very conscious of the need for support.”
The Cancer Ministry aspires to meet the spiritual, emotional, physical and informational needs of people with cancer and their families as they face the battle with cancer. Just as every person’s cancer is different, so are each person’s needs. More than fifty members have already volunteered to assess the person’s needs, offer prayers, organize and deliver baskets, and provide such practical services as making means, providing transportation, cleaning house or taking care of pets.
“We are starting the Cancer Ministry by supporting church members who are on their own personal journey with cancer, or serving as a caregiver to a spouse, child, parent or other family member,” Brother Edwards says. “We hope that once the program is fully implemented and volunteer workers in place, that we can expand the ministry to the entire Perry community. We aspire to reach those who are not connected to a local church and be able to provide them with professional and volunteer assistance,” he says.
“With the help of other churches, our long-term vision is to serve those touched by cancer throughout Houston County,” he adds.
The Cancer Ministry will also work on cancer prevention and early detection, by working with community providers to offer health fairs, screenings, and cancer education.
“With my own illness and my husband having survived melanoma, I know how difficult coping with cancer can be,” Debi Hutchens says. “The Cancer Ministry gives me and other members of the church the opportunity to do what we can to give back to others,” she adds.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition has helped support Cancer Ministries throughout the state. The program is non-denominational; any religious organization is welcome to initiate a cancer support program. For information on the Cancer Ministry program, contact Angie Patterson at APatterson@georgiacancer.org 404-584-0657.
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Upcoming Events
Sunday, July 27: The Hope Cancer Ministry will host a Survivor's Luncheon following morning worship in the church fellowship hall. This will be a celebration in honor of those who have survived cancer or who are currently walking through their cancer experience.
Sunday, August 3: A Cancer Survivor Group will start meeting the first Sunday of each month beginning at 4:30 PM until 5:45 PM at the church.
PATIENT NAVIGATORS STEER CANCER PATIENTS THROUGH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
When you’re diagnosed with cancer, your life is taken off course on a journey to a strange place. Because it’s not all smooth sailing, it helps to have guidance to weather the storms. To help steer cancer patients in the right direction, while providing support and encouragement, Georgia’s medical community is training healthcare professionals and volunteers as Patient Navigators.
They may work for a hospital, a public health department, or in a community setting with patients who have breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, head and neck or other types of cancer. In any case, Patient Navigation has been shown through evidence-based research to make a difference in patient health and wellbeing.
Dr. Harold Freeman, Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute and Director of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Treatment and Prevention in Harlem, New York, is credited with spearheading the development of the first breast health patient navigator program in 1990. On Thursday, July 10, he will be addressing cancer care professionals and survivors in Atlanta on “Patient Navigation: Improving the quality of cancer control.” The program is presented by the Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Georgia Cancer Foundation and sponsored by Pfizer.
Dr. Freeman initiated Patient Navigation as part of his personal crusade to improve medical care for the less fortunate. His goal was to reduce the race and income-related disparity in healthcare. Using free and low-cost screening mammography; improved outreach and public education; and patient navigation to promote treatment without delay, Harlem Hospital saw dramatically improved results.
Similar results have been found in other communities, including right here in Atlanta. Research done at Grady Hospital showed that community education and internal navigation programs could lead to a significant shift in stage at diagnosis of breast cancer among African American women, with a doubling in the proportion of cases caught at the earliest stage. Dr. Sheryl Gabram-Mendola, an Emory University researcher and surgical oncologist at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute is Director of the AVON Comprehensive Breast Center at the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and a Georgia Cancer Coalition Scholar.
"This success story is a wonderful example of how Georgia cancer patients benefit from the efforts of the Georgia Cancer Coalition to recruit nationally prominent researchers to come to our institutions. Dr. Gabram's work was published in a prestigious national scientific journal, but the beneficiaries of her research were the patients at Grady whose breast cancers were found earlier, vastly increasing their prospects for survival," says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
Attendees at the Patient Navigation event will include representatives from the Department of Human Resources, the Centers for Disease Control, the Regional Cancer Coalitions of Georgia, the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, the Georgia Society for Clinical Oncology, the Healthcare Georgia Foundation, American Cancer Society, and representatives from several hospitals, survivor organizations and community service programs.
“Patient Navigation is a key component of Georgia’s State Cancer Plan for Comprehensive Cancer Control as well as the state clinical alliance working with St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System in Savannah on the National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Center’s Program, “ says Angie Patterson, COO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. “ The concept has received national attention in the policymaking and health care communities. We are delighted to have Dr. Freeman address the state cancer community and support out efforts in Patient Navigation.”
TWO GA ACADEMIC CA CENTERS RECOGNIZED BY BCBSGA
(July 2): Two academic Cancer Centers in Georgia have been designated by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) as Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers, focusing on complex inpatient and surgical care. Both the Emory Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta and Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah earned the Blue distinction.
Complex and rare cancers comprise approximately 15 percent of new cancer cases each year, which can make it difficult for patients to locate oncologists or surgical teams experienced in treating these cancers. Examples include cancer of the bladder, bone, head and neck, brain, esophagus, liver, rectum, pancreas and thyroid, as well as soft tissue sacrcoma, ocular melanoma, gastric cancer and acute leukemia.
“When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, families value the opportunity to receive treatment nearby. Residents of Georgia are fortunate to have two facilities in the state which have been recognized for having teams with the distinguished expertise and subspecialty training required to address the evaluation, treatment planning, major surgery, and complex inpatient care required for treating complex and rare cancers,” says Bill Todd, President and CEO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The evidence-based selection criteria were developed in strategic collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with input from a panel of expert clinicians. To be named a Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers, facilities must:
• Have multidisciplinary team input, including sub-specialty trained teams for complex and rare cancers and demonstrated depth of expertise across cancer disciplines in medicine, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology;
• Demonstrate ongoing quality management and improvement programs for cancer care;
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to using clinical data registries and improvement programs for cancer care; and
• Demonstrate sufficient volume of experience in treating rare and complex cancers
Blue Distinction is awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. Building on the successful results of earlier programs focused on cardiac care, bariatric surgery and transplants, the program was recently expanded to include the designation of 85 Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers.
“We are honored to be recognized as a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” says Charles Staley, MD, director of surgical oncology at Emory Winship.
"This designation is a confirmation of the hard work and dedication to research and patient care that is exhibited every day by our faculty, nursing and administrative staff.
“Earning Blue Distinction is especially important to us because it is based on actual patient outcomes and quality indicators. It demonstrates that no one needs to leave the Georgia for world-class cancer care,” said Jeff Boyd, Ph.D., director of the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial University Medical Center.
“We commend the facilities that have been designated for treating complex and rare cancers," says Monye Connolly, president, BCBSGa. “Blue Distinction promotes the consistent practice of evidence-based medicine. The Blues are committed to working collaboratively with physicians and hospitals to raise the overall quality of healthcare in our nation. We understand that to deliver true patient-centered care, Blue Distinction Centers often need to coordinate care following a complex surgery or primary inpatient stay with patients’ local physicians.”
BCBSGa recognizes that the majority of patients' multidisciplinary treatment may be best accomplished by integrating the expertise available in a Blue Distinction Center with locally available treatment resources, especially for outpatient chemotherapy and radiotherapy, based on individual circumstances and patient preference. Optimal support of a patient's comprehensive cancer care needs may be achieved by coordination of care between the patient and their family, local physicians, the Blue Distinction Center and BCBSGa. For more information or additional criteria used for the designation visit www.BCBS.com.
Emory Winship Cancer Institute
As a leader in patient-centered cancer care and research, Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute (EWCI) serves as the coordinating center for a vast array of resources in medical, surgical, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, and the subspecialties of cancer care throughout Emory University--from blood and bone marrow stem cell transplants to groundbreaking surgical procedures.
Memorial University Medical Center
Memorial University Medical Center is a two-state healthcare organization serving a 35-county area in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. The system includes its flagship hospital, a 530-bed tertiary medical center; Memorial primary and specialty care physician networks; a major medical education program; business and industry services; and NurseOne, a 24-hour call center. Memorial University Medical Center has been named a Distinguished Hospital by J.D. Power and Associates four years in a row for providing an outstanding patient experience. Visit our Web site at www.memorialhealth.com.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION NAMES 23 DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS
Twenty-three scientists engaged in the most promising areas of cancer research have been selected by the Georgia Cancer Coalition to be recognized as Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists. Each Scholar will receive from $50,000 to $150,000 in funding annually for five years to support their research efforts. Most of these researchers have been or are being recruited from out-of-state to work in Georgia¡¦s research universities, medical schools, hospitals and nursing programs. The goal in attracting leading researchers is to strengthen the state¡¦s research talent, capacity, infrastructure and funding.
The following universities and hospitals have been notified and are actively pursuing recruitment of the awarded number(s) of new Scholars:
„X Emory University: 7
„X Medical College of Georgia: 7
„X University of Georgia: 3
„X Georgia State University: 2
„X Georgia Tech: 1
„X Morehouse School of Medicine: 1
„X Phoebe Putney Memorial Hosp: 1
„X St. Joseph¡¦s/Candler Health System: 1
We are especially excited about this round¡¦s selection of two quality candidates in community health systems,¨ says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. We hope this will be a bridge to academia and a new model that will help us move forward in our goal of expediting the translation of research.¡¨
Since its inception in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has named 125 Distinguished Scholars. Scholar funding is an investment not only in Georgia¡¦s future as a national leader in cancer control, but also is valuable in attracting increased funding to Georgia for cancer research. For starters, the Coalition contracts with the sponsoring institution to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match. The review committee examines the scholars¡¦ history of grants, publications and patents, and considers the researcher¡¦s potential for attracting future funding. In fiscal year 2007, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $47 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia; over the program¡¦s 6-year history, scholars have generated more than $200 million in funding.
Scholar selection is based on how the applicant¡¦s research relates to the goals of the Coalition, the research priorities of the National Cancer Institute, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Each application is reviewed by both an external scientific review committee and an advisory review committee, appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia's research universities. Members rank scholars according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria.
The National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition's efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of cancer. These scientists play an important role in positioning Georgia as a national leader in cancer research,¡¨ says Todd.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation's premier states for cancer care. The mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model.
BREAST CANCER LICENSE TAG FUNDS $500,000 IN AWARDS
Breast cancer screening, education, outreach and access for Georgia’s medically indigent will be expanded thanks to $500,000 contributed by Georgians to the Breast Cancer License Tag Fund. The Georgia Cancer Coalition, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), selected twelve public health organizations across the state as the 2008 awardees.
Those selected include:
• The Henry W. Grady Health System Foundation to address access to MRI Breast Cancer Screening in Metro Atlanta;
• Family Health Enterprise of Atlanta for its Breast Health Promotion program;
• The Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, Inc. of Atlanta for educational workshops in Atlanta and South and/or Central Georgia;
• DeKalb Medical in Decatur for its Wellness on Wheels Breast Cancer Screening Project;
• The West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition in Columbus for its Breast Health Connection;
• The West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition and West Georgia Health System in LaGrange for their Breast Health Link program;
• The Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center of Rome for its Community Health Advisor Breast Cancer Screening Fund;
• The Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition, Inc., in Rome for its Northwest Georgia Breast Cancer Screening Fund;
• The University Health Care Foundation in Augusta for the University Health Care System’s Mobile Mammography Unit;
• Health Care Central Georgia (HCCG) in Forsyth for the Central Georgia Cancer Coalition Breast Screening and Education Initiative; and
• Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus for Regaining Capacity to Reduce Breast Cancer disparities after the storm.
• The East Georgia Cancer Coalition in Athens to provide mammography screenings for medically indigent women in their 26-county area.
Applicants are expected to provide matching funds or in-kind support equal to or exceeding the grant amount requested. Successful applicants demonstrated collaborative relationships with the Coalition’s partners in fighting cancer in the state, such as the Regional Cancer Coalitions of Georgia; Centers for Excellence; Department of Human Resources’ Division of Public Health; and the American Cancer Society.
Since 2003, more than $2 million has been contributed to the fund by Georgians through the purchase of vehicle license plates, statewide promotion, and partnerships with Georgia automobile dealers. A total of 35 organizations throughout the state have received awards.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in Georgia. This year alone it is estimated that 6,057 will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,014 women will die from it.
“While Georgia has been successful at increasing breast cancer screening rates, not all women – particularly the medically indigent – receive appropriate screening. When identified at an early stage, through mammography and clinical breast exams, breast cancer treatment is more effective and mortality rates improve,” says William Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The Coalition administers, reviews, and evaluates the applications, and disburses awards to those selected. The 30 applications received for proposed programs were peer reviewed in a competitive process. Priority is given to programs in areas of greatest need as reflected by a state analysis of cancer data. For information about ordering the breast cancer license plate go to: http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/plates/plate.asp?ptitle=BC.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations, and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research, and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. Our mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia.
CANCER RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM FOSTERS STATEWIDE COLLABORATION
Atlanta (May 20): “The Promise of Collaboration” was fulfilled at the 2008 Research Symposium of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. Cancer researchers from across the state learned about each other’s work by reviewing poster presentations, listening to speakers, posting questions following panel discussions, and by meeting face-to-face at meals, breaks and receptions.
“The goal of the Symposium was to provide a forum to exchange ideas, information and best practices to further collaborative efforts to combat cancer in Georgia,” says Bill Todd, President and CEO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition which sponsored the event. “Scientists and scholars were also inspired by the opportunity to hear from survivors and regional cancer coalition staff on real life issues people with cancer face every day. It brought home the urgency of their work.”
Georgia’s academic institutions were well represented, providing updates on their progress in cancer research, including: Brian Leyland-Jones, MD, PhD, Director of the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University in Atlanta; Kapil Bhalla, MD, founding director of the Medical College of Georgia Cancer Center in Augusta; Michael Pierce, PhD, Director of the University of Georgia Cancer Center in Athens; Ravi Bellamkonda, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta; Binghe Wang, PhD, Professor, Georgia State University in Atlanta ; and Dominic Broccoli, Ph.D. who leads the Molecular Biology and Genetics Program at the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health Care System in Savannah.
Presentations featured exciting cancer research taking place around the state featuring collaborations between universities, hospitals, regional cancer coalitions, the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady, as well as clinical trials linking academia and community-based oncology practices. Scientists shared studies in everything from basic to translational science, population science to clinical research.
For example, Sheryl Gabram-Mendola, MD, MBA, a Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar, who is a Professor of Surgery at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University and Director of the Avon Breast Cancer Center at the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at the Grady Health System, talked about he r work with Charlene Bayer, PhD, Principal Research Scientist, at Georgia Tech Research Institute. Together, they are studying “Breath Analysis as a Method for Breast Cancer Detection.” Scholar Michael Eirksen, ScD, Director of the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University and his colleague Rodney Lyn, PhD, MS, Professor, spoke of their efforts in preventing childhood obesity, working with William Kanto, Jr., MD, Director of the Children’s Medical Center at Medical College of Georgia.
“The Cancer Symposium is an effort to bring the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s partners together for the type of interchange that adds great value to the Coalition’s research investment. Each participant plays an integral role in the effort to eradicate cancer. As stated in the State Cancer Plan, ‘together, we can,’” says Kate Canterbury, Director of Research Programs.
ROCK RACING DONATES $250,000 TO TWO CANCER RESEARCH CHARITIES DURING TOUR DE GEORGIA PRESENTED BY AT&T
Atlanta, GA (April 25, 2008) – As part of the team’s commitment to supporting the 2008 Tour de Georgia presented by AT & T, Rock Racing is donating $250,000 to the official beneficiaries of the event, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Georgia Cancer Coalition. Team Owner, Michael Ball, will present checks to Eugene Hayes, Foundation President of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, as well as to Bill Todd, President and CEO of the Georgia Cancer Coalition on Sunday, April 27 during the final stage in Atlanta. The donations will directly benefit pediatric cancer and blood disorders research through the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service, as well as support the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s efforts to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation's premier states for cancer care.
“Giving back is an important part of what this team is all about,” said Ball. “Cancer research is a cause we strongly support through the company’s philanthropic division, Rock the Cure, and we are pleased to support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, as well as the Georgia Cancer Coalition, and hopefully make a difference in the lives of cancer patients.”
“The support from Rock Racing illustrates such a positive commitment to both the Tour de Georgia and to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta,” said Shelton Stevens, Manager Sports Network, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. “Their generosity through the Tour de Georgia helps us get closer to curing cancer and blood disorders and making a difference in the lives of children across Georgia.”
GEORGIA LEADERS WORK TO IMPROVE CANCER CONTROL
ATLANTA (GA) December 11 – More than 35,000 cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Georgia this year –about 97 cases per day. Unfortunately, more than 14,950 Georgians are projected to die from the disease as well. With cancer serving as the second leading cause of death in Georgia, actions must be taken to reduce incidence rates, screen and detect the disease earlier and ensure healthcare providers meet or exceed national standards of cancer care. Diverse groups including the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health have collaborated with oncologists, cancer survivors and others statewide to revise Georgia’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan and tackle this issue head on.
“Oncology experts across the state have worked to develop an updated roadmap for cancer control in Georgia over the next five years,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, Director of the Division of Public Health. “Based on collaborative input and using the best scientific evidence, we identified 16 goals with specific objectives to help us achieve comprehensive cancer control.”
The goals fall into five categories across the spectrum of cancer care. The categories include:
1.Prevention
2.Early detection and screening
3.Cancer diagnosis and staging
4.Treatment and palliation and
5.Data and metrics.
The prevention category focuses on the nearly two-thirds of cancer deaths that can be linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, diet, obesity and lack of physical activity. This category seeks to decrease tobacco use among Georgians and reduce the number of overweight and obese children. It will also target lessening the incidence of cervical cancer and the prevalence of the human papilloma virus(HPV).
The burden of cancer can be reduced significantly with appropriate use of mammography, colorectal screening and other early detection examinations. Yet, many Georgians do not have access to these preventive screening options. Removing barriers to cancer screening services is one of the primary focuses of the early detection and screening category. Other targets include increasing participation in recommended screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical and prostate cancers and improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer screening and follow-up services.
The third category, cancer diagnosis and staging, seeks progress in ensuring the timeliness and quality of acquisition, pathology and staging prior to cancer treatment and the uniformity and accuracy of documentation. Physicians, epidemiologists, cancer registrars and health care administrators served on the committee to identify this goal.
In treatment and palliation, the fourth category, ensuring hospital compliance with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines is key. Other elements under this goal include: increasing the number of Georgians involved in cancer clinical trials and having palliative care available for a large proportion of cancer patients from the time of diagnosis.
The fifth and final category, data and metrics, will improve providers’ knowledge and use of available public health data related to cancer. The committee suggests establishing ongoing and collaborative processes for addressing cancer data and metrics. The category seeks to also expand and enhance cancer data collection from existing and new sources and implement improved information management tools and technologies.
Changes to Georgia’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan is the first step in combating cancer in the state. The Coalition’s State Cancer Summit will meet with others involved with cancer care in Georgia on January 14-15, 2008 to discuss collaboration details for implementation of the plan.
Funding and support for Georgia’s plan is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Leadership was provided by DHR, the Department of Community Health and the Georgia Cancer Coalition. The Georgia Health Policy Center at Georgia State University facilitated the process.
For more information about cancer control in Georgia, please visit: www.georgiacancer.org or call (404) 651- 6611.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION NAMES 29 DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS
ATLANTA (November 19, 2007): Twenty-nine scientists engaged in the most promising areas of cancer research have been selected by the Georgia Cancer Coalition to be recognized as Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists. Each Scholar receives from $50,000 to $150,000 in funding annually for 5 years to support their research efforts. Most of these researchers have been or are being recruited from out-of-state to work in Georgia’s research universities, medical schools, hospitals and nursing programs. The goal in attracting leading researchers is to strengthen the state’s research talent, capacity, infrastructure and funding.
Among this year’s awardees are the following scientists who have already been recruited to the following:
Emory University, Atlanta: Sheryl Gabram-Mendola, M.D. (Grady Cancer Center); N. Volkan Adsay, M.D.; Ann Mertens, Ph.D.(Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta); Ashesh Jani, M.D.; Rita Nahta, M.D.; Constantinos Hadjipanayis, M.D., Ph.D.; Pamela Mink, Ph.D.;
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta: Fracesca Storici, Ph.D.; Youhong Fan, Ph.D.; Ming Yuan, Ph.D.; and Melissa Kemp, Ph.D..
Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah: Dominique Broccoli, Ph.D.
Mercer University, Savannah campus: Shi-Wen Jiang, M.Sc., M.D.; Edward Perkins, Ph.D.
University of Georgia in Athens: Robert Arnold, Ph.D.; Lianchun Wang, M.Sc., M.D.; and Yang Geng, Ph.D.
Since its inception in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has named 113 Distinguished Scholars. The Scholar funding is an investment not only in Georgia’s future as a national leader in cancer control, but also is valuable in attracting increased funding to Georgia for cancer research. For starters, the Coalition contracts with the sponsoring institution to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match. The review committee examines the scholars’ history of grants, publications and patents, and considers the researcher’s potential for attracting future funding. In fiscal year 2007, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $47 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia; over the program’s 6-year history, scholars have generated nearly $200 million in funding.
Scholar selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the of the Coalition, the research priorities of the National Cancer Institute, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Each application is reviewed by both an external scientific review committee and an advisory review committee, appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s research universities. Kate Canterbury, Director of Research Programs, staffs the Coalition committees. Members rank scholars according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria.
“The National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of cancer. These scientists play an important role in positioning Georgia as a national leader in cancer research,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. The mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model. For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
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KATE CANTERBURY, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, NAMED ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE "UP & COMER"
Kate Canterbury, Director of Research Programs for the Georgia Cancer Coalition, was chosen by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of “the most successful and powerful leaders in the community” under the age of 40.
As Director of Research Programs, Kate is responsible for the administration and management of the Coalition’s cornerstone program, awarding research funding to Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists to attract them to Georgia. She also manages the Cancer Research Awards program, which disperses pilot grants to scientists doing research in the state on breast, prostate or ovarian cancer. She is the Coalition’s liaison with university administrators, cancer clinicians and scientists, research review committee members, interns and more.
“Kate is exceedingly bright and highly motivated,” says Kathy Russell, special adviser to the Coalition, who nominated Kate. “She is an exceptional leader in the cause; as a young person, she is going to make a huge impact in the state for years to come.”
The newspaper received more than 270 nominations through the alumni group of winners, the “Up & Comers.” They selected honorees based on their strong career success and leadership as well as their commitment to and visible achievements in civic and community causes.
In addition to her work, Kate is active with the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, the Destiny Fund’s Alumnae Program, and the L.E.A.D. program of Leadership Atlanta, where young professionals are trained in community service and leadership development.She lives in Duluth with her husband, Tim, who is executive chef at the 1818 Club.
GRANT MONEY FROM BREAST CANCER LICENSE TAG RENEWALS
ATLANTA (August 1, 2007): Proceeds from renewals of the Breast Cancer License Tag, totaling $500,000, are available for non-profit organizations and public health agencies to expand breast cancer education, screening, access, and outreach to people in the state of Georgia who are medically indigent. Applications are available as of August 1 from the Georgia Cancer Coalition and must be submitted by September 14 for funding effective October 2008.
The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Public Health (DPH) contract with the Georgia Cancer Coalition to administer, review and evaluate applications, and disburse awards. Proposed programs or projects are peer reviewed in a competitive process. Priority is given to programs in areas of greatest need as reflected by a state analysis of cancer data.
Individual awards are between $30,000 and $50,000. Applicants are expected to provide matching funds or in-kind support equal to or exceeding the grant amount requested. Successful applicants must also demonstrate collaborative relationships with the Coalition’s partners in fighting cancer in the state of Georgia, such as the Regional Cancer Coalitions of Excellence; the Centers for Excellence; the Department of Human Resources’ Division of Public Health, or the American Cancer Society.
Innovative program ideas are encouraged.
Proposals should be submitted through proposalCENTRAL at https://proposalcentral.altum.com.Scroll down the alphabetical list to the “Georgia Cancer Coalition” and then to “Breast Cancer License Tag Program” for the complete Request for Proposal. Application submission questions should be directed to pcsupport@altum.com or 1-800-875-2562, ext 227. For program inquiries, contact Kate Canterbury, Director of the Research Programs at kcanterbury@georgiacancer.org or 404-584-0654.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in Georgia. This year alone it is estimated that 6,057 will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,014 women will die from it. Since 2003, citizens of Georgia have contributed more than $2 million to the Breast Cancer License Tag fund. As a result, grants have been awarded to 24 organizations throughout the state to fund breast cancer services, expanding screening, education, outreach and access for medically indigent women.
For information about ordering the breast cancer license plate go to: http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/plates/plate.asp?ptitle=BC.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. Our mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia.
NORTHWEST GEORGIA’S MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO COOPERATE IN GEORGIA CANCER COALITION’S QUALITY INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Health care providers in Rome - including Harbin Clinic, Floyd Medical Center and Redmond Regional Medical Center - are joining with the Georgia Cancer Coalition in a pilot project whose goal is to develop a system for measuring the quality of cancer care. The Georgia Cancer Quality Information Exchange has the potential of becoming the first statewide evidence-based cancer quality measurement program in the country.
Many factors played into the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s decision to make Rome the state’s second demonstration site for “The Exchange.”
“We are very impressed with the level of collaboration and joint development of initiatives in Rome,” says Coalition President and CEO Bill Todd. “Our goal for The Exchange is to work together with many stakeholders, and the cooperative effort in Rome allows us to determine how community-wide implementation can work.”
“All partners have made a significant investment of resources and expertise to become a demonstration site,” says Todd. “Their role in facilitating the design, access and retrieval of clinical information and public health data will play a critical role in The Exchange.”
Tom Fricks, Chief Information Officer for Harbin Clinic, has been named the Project Executive and Dr. Matthew Mumber, a radiation oncologist, is the Physician Executive. They are leading a committee that is currently designing a plan to gather data on metrics specific to lung cancer as well as other metrics that apply to all types of cancer.
“Northwest Georgia is a microcosm of the state of Georgia. We have a multi-specialty physician practice and a not- for-profit and for-profit hospital. The implementation of electronic medical record keeping is at various stages in the three facilities, so the gathering of data will require alternative approaches. With a high level of collaboration, we believe that we can demonstrate results that other regions of Georgia can replicate,” says Dr. Mumber.
The Georgia Cancer Quality Information Exchange is the brainchild of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. Founded in 2001 using a portion of Georgia’s tobacco settlement funds, the Coalition’s objective is to make Georgia a national leader in cancer prevention, treatment, and research. Coalition leaders realized that an objective tool was needed to measure their progress. Finding no such resource, they sought the advice of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a division of the National Academy of Science. The IOM’s response was a one-year study, funded by the an Atlanta Foundation and carried out by a team of experts in clinical research, public health, academia, oncology, healthcare, quality assurance, information technology, accreditation and public policy.
Assessing the Quality of Cancer Care: An Approach to Measurement in Georgia was submitted to the Georgia Cancer Coalition in early 2005. Building on the IOM’s experience in quality-of-care measurement, the study developed 52 measures, focusing on adult breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers, since these comprise more than half of all cancer cases and deaths in Georgia. These metrics includes measurements related to all aspects of cancer care, from cancer prevention, to early detection, to cancer diagnoses, treatment, follow-up and palliative care.
St. Joseph’s/Candler (SJ/C) Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion in Savannah was the Georgia Cancer Quality Information Exchange’s first demonstration project, developing a standardized framework or “toolkit” for providers and validating the use of the metrics in a clinical care delivery setting. Their area of focus was breast cancer.
In January 2007, the Georgia Cancer Coalition began planning the second demonstration project in Rome. The Coalition is currently exploring the possibility of additional demonstration projects throughout the state.
See the link below to review the video from the conference. Thank You.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION NAMES THIRTEEN DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS
ATLANTA, February 27, 2007:
Thirteen scientists engaged in the most promising areas of cancer research have been selected by the Georgia Cancer Coalition to be recognized as Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists. Each Scholar receives from $50,000 to $150,000 in funding annually for 5 years to support their research efforts. Most of the researchers are recruited to Georgia.
The Coalition cooperates with Georgia’s research universities, medical schools, hospitals and nursing programs in this process, with the goal of strengthening the state’s research talent, capacity and infrastructure.
This year’s awardees are Ravi Bellamkonda, Ph.D. for Georgia Institute of Technology; Edward S. Mocarski, Jr., Ph.D.; Georgia Zhou Chen, Ph.D.; Jing Chen, Ph.D., and Harold I. Saavedra, Ph.D. for Emory University, and Susan Bauer-Wu, D.N.Sc. at Emory University School of Nursing; Shaying Zhao, Ph.D. at University of Georgia; and Yujun George Zheng, Ph.D., at Georgia State University. Recruitment is pending for five additional scholars.
Since its inception in 2001, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has named 91 Distinguished Scholars. The Scholar funding is an investment not only in Georgia’s future as a national leader in cancer control, but also is valuable in attracting increased funding to Georgia for cancer research. For starters, the Coalition contracts with the sponsoring institution to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match. The review committee examines the scholars’ history of grants, publications and patents, and considers the researcher’s potential for attracting future funding. In fiscal year 2006, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholars were responsible for securing $48 million in privately and federally funded research grants to the state of Georgia. Scholar selection is based on how the applicant’s research relates to the goals of the Coalition, the research priorities of the National Cancer Institute, and the strategic plan of the sponsoring institution. Each application is reviewed by both an external scientific review committee and an advisory review committee, appointed by the Coalition in cooperation with Georgia’s research universities. Kate Canterbury, Director of Research Programs, staffs the Coalition committees. Members rank scholars according to predetermined scientific and technical criteria.
“The National Cancer Institute has identified areas of discovery that hold promise for making significant progress against all cancers. The Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists program is the cornerstone of the Georgia Cancer Coalition’s efforts to advance scientific discovery into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of cancer. These scientists play an important role in positioning Georgia as a national leader in cancer research,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization that unites government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of making Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. The mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model. For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
CHECK-A-BOX AND GIVE-A-BUCK TO SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH IN GEORGIA
February 13, 2007, Atlanta – Since 2003, Georgians have written a $2 million “check” for cancer research. The “check” is actually a check mark in a box on state income tax returns that allows taxpayers to conveniently donate a dollar or more to the Georgia Cancer Research Fund, managed by the Georgia Cancer Coalition. Each dollar is matched by philanthropic and community resources in our state; therefore, the program has raised $4 million to support life-saving research into the causes, treatments, and cures of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer.
Georgia has one of the highest rates of cancer in the nation. Cancer research accelerates improvements in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment, and may well reduce cancer incidence and cancer-related deaths in Georgia. The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose goal is to make Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care; the mission, to reduce the number of cancer-related deaths in the state.
Ever dollar donated through the income tax check-off program goes directly to cancer clinicians and scientists doing research in Georgia. For more information, visit www.georgiacancer.org.
Your support is appreciated.
GAFP ANNUAL MEETING FEATURES GEORGIA CANCER COALITION SPONSORED CANCER SUMMIT
Atlanta (November 29, 2006)- Cancer screening and diagnosis play such an important part in the practice of family physicians that Georgia’s primary care doctors asked for more educational sessions about cancer for GAFP’s 58th annual scientific assembly and exhibition. The Cancer Summit was sponsored by the Georgia Cancer Coalition, a public-private partnership that works to strengthen existing cancer-related programs and create new initiatives to accelerate cancer prevention, early detection, research, and treatment. Many of the presenters are Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholars who are awarded funding to pursue innovative cancer research in the state.
The program began with a dinner and keynote address by Dr. Daron Ferris, Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center at Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Ferris gave an update on clinical trail results with preventive HPV vaccine, explaining how it may be used for cervical cancer prevention.
Experts gave progress reports on cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment for specific types of cancer. Dr. Ruth O’Regan, Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, discussed traditional breast cancer diagnostic methods – self-examination, clinical examination and mammography – as well as progress being made in other surveillance tools and imaging modalities, such as the PET scan and MRI.
A large audience came to learn more about risk factors and screening guidelines for prostate cancer from Dr. Vasily Assikis, a medical oncologist with Peachtree Hematology-Oncology Consultants. Dr. Assikis discussed when it is appropriate to use PSA and DRE screening, and gave statistics on prostate cancer’s incidence and mortality.
The third most prevalent cancers nationwide-- colorectal cancers-- were addressed by Dr. Robert Hermann, a medical oncologist with Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers. Mortality rates have been decreasing since 1980, in part because colonoscopies are now being covered by most health plans. Another factor in improving outcomes, he said, is advances being made in optimally combining treatment modalities, such as bringing adjuvant chemotherapy together with surgery, and performing preoperative radiation.
Unfortunately, the prognosis has not improved for lung cancer, where incidence and mortality rates are on the rise, said Dr. Rodolfo E. Bordoni, a medical oncologist with Georgia Cancer Specialists. In addition to discussing the risk factors and symptoms for lung cancer, Dr. Bordoni presented some of the newer targeted therapies that hold the promise of having lower toxicity and maximizing patient functionality.
William Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, gave a luncheon keynote presentation to explain the role of the Georgia Cancer Coalition in improving cancer care in the state. He emphasized the importance of attracting Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists to the state in order to increase cancer research, attract federally funded studies, increase clinical trial participation levels, and ultimately, to bring the National Cancer Institute-Comprehensive Cancer Center designation to a medical institution in Georgia. Mr. Todd also discussed a new “dashboard” of 52 metrics being developed based on a study from the Institute of Medicine detailing a comprehensive approach to measuring the quality of cancer care in Georgia as well as work in progress on a revised State Cancer Plan.
Progress in attracting cancer clinical trials to Georgia was further explained by Nancy Paris, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (CORE). She encouraged physicians to refer cancer patients to the Georgia Cancer Trials online searchable database, www.georgiacancertrials.org, and explained efforts being made to establish a statewide network connecting physicians with common research interests.
Clinical trials are the “standard of care” for children, said Dr. Karen Wasilewski, who works with Cancer Survivorship Programs at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She reviewed the history of childhood cancer and explained that with the increased survival rates, emphasis is now being put on learning more about the late effects of childhood cancer.
In addition to the eight presentations, the exhibit area at the GAFP conference provided participants with information about resources in the state and in individual communities. The Georgia Cancer Coalition booth provided physician’s offices with promotional material about the breast cancer license tag and the income tax check-off, two opportunities for people to contribute to the Coalition’s mission. The Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education helped physicians learn about the availability of cancer clinical trials across the state. For cancer survivors, tables were manned by representatives of survivor groups who are represented in the 19-member Cancer Survivor Leadership Council. In addition, staff from the state’s six Regional Cancer Coalitions of Excellence was on hand to tell participants about availability of services in their own communities.
GEORGIA CANCER COALITION SELECTS CANCER RESEARCH AWARDS FOR 2006
(Atlanta- November 29, 2006) The Georgia Cancer Coalition has announced the recipients of eight new Cancer Research Awards for 2006, made possible by Georgians who agree to contribute to cancer research on their state income tax returns, the Tour de Georgia professional cycling race, and private contributions.
Four awardees are from Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, two from the University of Georgia and one each from Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse School of Medicine, receiving a total of $432,732 in funding.
The 2006 Research Awardees are:
• Peter Johnstone, M.D., Emory University
• Hyunsuk Shim, Ph.D., Emory University
• Sankararaman Suryanarayanan, Ph.D., Emory University
• Srinivasan Vedantham, Ph.D., Emory University
• John McDonald, Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology
• Xuebiao Yao, Ph.D., Morehouse School of Medicine
• Edward Kipreos, Ph.D., University of Georgia
• Lyndon West, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Since the inception of the tax check-off program in 2000, more than $2 million dollars has been awarded to 47 cancer researchers throughout Georgia through a competitive, peer-reviewed grant process. Reviewers include nationally recognized scientists and clinicians from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Duke University, and Georgetown University, among others.
Twenty-five researchers submitted proposals for the 2006 awards.
“We believe that research is essential in the war on cancer,” says Bill Todd, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Cancer Coalition. “We are indebted to the citizens of Georgia who choose to contribute to this effort as well as to the fundraising efforts of the Tour de Georgia. The increasing number of researchers who apply for these grants indicates that we are making progress in developing interest in cancer research in the state’s scientific community.”
The Georgia Cancer Coalition is an independent, non-profit organization working to make Georgia one of the nation’s premier states for cancer care. The Coalition unites government agencies, academic institutions and health care organizations to strengthen existing cancer programs and support new initiatives. Further, it promotes, encourages and funds cancer research, which accelerates improvements in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment, and may well reduce cancer incidence and mortality. The Coalition is the first of its kind in the nation and is fast becoming a national model.
For more information on the Georgia tax donation program, go to the Georgia Cancer Coalition website at www.georgiacancer.org or call 404-584-7720.
TOUR DE GEORGIA 2007 ROUTE UNVEILED
ATLANTA, Ga. (November 21, 2006) – State parks, national landmarks, classic mountains and the state capital will highlight the route of the fifth annual Tour de Georgia, scheduled April 16 to 22, 2007. The announcement of the 12 Host Venues and overview of the seven stages was unveiled today by sports marketing company Medalist Sports and the event’s Presenting Sponsor, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), the business recruitment and tourism agency for the state.
Expanding its stature from six to seven days, the Tour de Georgia will begin for the first time in its five-year history on a Monday.
A full week of professional cycling and community festivals will embark on April 16 from Peachtree City, Ga, located just south of metro Atlanta, and work its way in a clockwise direction around the state of Georgia and include a return to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Highlights of the 600-mile route include a dramatic individual time trial to the top of Lookout Mountain, a return to the epic mountain-top finish on Brasstown Bald Mountain, a stage finish in Stone Mountain Park and a return to downtown Atlanta and Centennial Olympic Park as the Overall Finish.
"Each of these great communities will be able to put its own unique stamp on the event," said Craig Lesser, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "Adding an extra day to the Tour de Georgia schedule means more people than ever will have the chance to enjoy the excitement of this international event, and will only enhance the Tour's already strong impact on Georgia's economy."
2007 TOUR DE GEORGIA ROUTE AND HOST VENUES
Stage 1: Monday, April 16 – Peachtree City, Ga. to Macon, Ga.
Stage 2: Tuesday, April 17 – Thomaston, Ga. to Rome, Ga.
Stage 3: Wednesday, April 18 – Rome, Ga. to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Stage 4: Thursday, April 19 – Chickamauga/Walker Co., Ga. to Lookout Mountain, Ga. (Time Trial)
Stage 5: Friday, April 20 – Dalton, Ga. to Brasstown Bald Mountain/Towns Co., Ga.
Stage 6: Saturday, April 21 – Lake Lanier Islands/ Hall Co., Ga. to Stone Mountain Park/Dekalb Co., Ga.
Stage 7: Sunday, April 22 – Atlanta, Ga. (circuit race)
Of the 12 host venues,three have hosted the Tour for five consecutive years – Dalton, Macon and Rome. Brasstown Bald Mountain will host a stage finish for the fourth consecutive year. Of the eight returning Host Venues, Thomaston and Atlanta have not hosted the Tour since 2004 and 2003, respectively.
The week-long spring tradition will again cover over 600 miles of racing and maintains its stature as a tune-up for the Tour de France on the international cycling calendar. Fifteen professional cycling teams from around the world, each with eight athletes, will be extended special invitations to participate in the 2007 Tour de Georgia. Two UCI ProTour teams have already accepted those invitations, including the Discovery Channel Professional Cycling Team (USA) and Predictor-Lotto (Belgium).
The Tour de Georgia is one of the highest ranked stage races outside of Europe with a 2.HC rating from the Union Cycliste Internationale (international governing body of cycling) and is one of 15 races on the new USA Cycling Professional Tour. The 2006 event included 120 athletes from 24 countries. The final field of world-class teams and athletes is expected to be announced in early 2007.
“As we enter our fifth year, we are proud to be part of the Tour de Georgia’s growth in international prominence and the significance here in the State of Georgia. The success of Tour de Georgia continues to generate positive value for local communities and the state, excitement for the event spectators, as well as provides a prestigious level of competition for these world-class athletes. In partnership with our host communities and corporate sponsors, we challenge ourselves every year to raise the bar, and the 2007 Tour de Georgia promises to be as exciting as ever.” said Chris Aronhalt, Managing Partner for Medalist Sports and the Executive Director for the Tour de Georgia.
Since 2003 the Tour de Georgia has attracted 2.3 million spectators and generated over $121 million in economic impact for the state of Georgia. The event has also raised both awareness and revenue for the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the official beneficiary of the Tour. 2007 will mark the fifth consecutive year for this partnership.
“Cyclists have a lot in common with the Georgia Cancer Coalition. We both work with a team of professionals, setting our sights on an uphill battle, facing twists and turns, with confidence that we will succeed in our quest. The support of the Tour de Georgia and of the communities of fans around the state helps the Coalition on our path to improving cancer care in the state of Georgia, and we are very appreciative of those efforts, “said Bill Todd, Coalition President and CEO.
Details for each of the seven stages, including maps, mileage, elevation profiles, and recommended viewing locations, are being planned by Medalist Sports. All information will be posted on the official website, www.tourdegeorgia.com.
THE GEORGIA CANCER COALITION NAMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Atlanta - October 15, 2006
Richard D. Moore, Chairman of the Board of St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System in Savannah and President of RDM Investments, and Richard Gordon Mooney, III, a founding and managing partner of Allen, Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors, LLC., and Chairman of the Board of Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, have been named to the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, based in Atlanta. The Board provides governance, strategic direction and fiscal oversight for the Coalition whose mission is to reduce the number of cancer deaths in the state by accelerating cancer prevention, detection, treatment and research. For further information, the official website is www.georgiacancer.org.
$36 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT DETERMINED FOR 2005 TOUR DE GEORGIA
ATLANTA - July 14, 2005 - Gaining international stature for the elite athletes who race through the state on this 655-mile, six-day event, the Tour de Georgia has gained prominence for the significant revenue it has generated for the state economy. An impact analysis conducted by the Community Policy and Research Services division at Georgia Tech's Economic Development and Technology Ventures revealed that the 2005 Tour de Georgia generated $36.2 million in economic impact for the state of Georgia and local communities.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, GEORGIA CANCER COALITION AND LIFECLINIC INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH CANCER RESOURCE KIOSK INITIATIVE
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA - April 8, 2005 - Being diagnosed with a life threatening disease such as cancer is a very stressful and traumatic experience, but patients today have more treatment choices than ever before. Patients and their families can choose between traditional or alternative medical treatments, or they can adopt an integrated approach, combining both forms. Despite advances, however, the maximum benefits available from the expansion of treatment choices have not been fully realized.
HHS SECRETARY TOMMY G. THOMPSON ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO HELP AMERICANS QUIT SMOKING
UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEATLH AND HUMAN SERVICES - November 10, 2004 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today a series of initiatives designed to help Americans quit smoking. The initiatives include the opening of a national quitline number (1-800-QUITNOW) that puts users in touch with programs that can help them give up tobacco. In addition, a new HHS Web site (www.smokefree.gov) offers online advice and downloadable information to make cessation easier.
NIH AWARDS EMORY UNIVERSITY AND GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NEARLY $10 MILLION FOR RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS IN CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY
ATLANTA - October 6, 2004 - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded scientists from Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology two new collaborative research grants, totaling nearly $10 million, to establish a multidisciplinary research program in cancer nanotechnology and to develop a new class of nanoparticles for molecular and cellular imaging.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS NOTICE: RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR THE AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY
AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY - November 30, 2004 - The mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare for all Americans, through the establishment of a broad base of scientific research and through the promotion of improvements in clinical and health systems practices, including the prevention of diseases and other health conditions. AHRQ achieves this mission through health services research designed to (1) improve clinical practice, (2) improve the health care system's ability to provide access to and deliver high quality, high-value health care, and (3) provide policymakers with the ability to assess the impact of system changes on outcomes, quality, access to, cost, and use of health care services.
NIH PANEL ISSUES STATE-OF-THE-SCIENCE STATEMENT ON END-OF-LIFE CARE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - December 8, 2004 - Despite progress in end-of-life research, important aspects of this life stage remain poorly understood, according to a panel convened by the National Institutes of Health. The panel found that for many Americans, a lack of continuity of care and poor communication between healthcare practitioners, patients, and family members make the end-of-life period a struggle.
SHARED INSTRUMENTATION GRANT PROGRAM
NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES - December 10, 2004
NIH ESTABLISHES WEBSITE FOR NEW INVESTIGATORS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - December 10, 2004
GCC DISTINGUISHED CANCER SCHOLARS OF MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WORKING AT GEORGIA CANCER CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE FIND A KEY TO PEDIATRIC BONE CANCER
MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE - In a study in July 26, 2004 issue of advance Online publication of the British journal Oncogene (26th July, 2004 ), Morehouse School of Medicine Cancer Biology Researchers Dr Shyam Reddy and Dr Veena Rao (Georgia cancer coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholars) report that an abnormal protein found in 95 percent of certain cancers may cause malignancy by targeting or sequestering key transcriptional co-factors which play a vital role in cell suicidal pathway of cancer cells (also known as programmed cell death or Apoptosis).
UGA GRADY COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND CANCER SURVIVOR RECEIVES $3 MILLION GRANT FROM NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA - October 1, 2004 - For one University of Georgia professor, research means the most fundamental of all differences – the difference between life and death.
THE SEARCH FOR A KINDER, GENTLER CHEMOTHERAPY
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - September 9, 2004 - Painful and damaging chemotherapy may one day be a thing of the past. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University have developed nano-sized particles that can target and trick cancer cells into absorbing them. Once inside, the particles may soon be able to deliver a pharmaceutical payload, killing the tumor from within and avoiding the destruction of healthy cells responsible for much of the damage caused by traditional chemotherapy. The research is published in the August 25 edition of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE EXPANDS NATIONAL FAITH-BASED HEALTH INITIATIVE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES:
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE - Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - As part of its ongoing commitment to reduce cancer health disparities, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), one of the National Institutes of Health, has announced the expansion of a faith-based initiative to encourage African Americans nationwide to eat a healthy diet as part of an active lifestyle. Designed to help African Americans take charge of their health, "Body & Soul: A Celebration of Healthy Eating & Living" promotes the national recommendation for Americans to eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day for better health. NCI is now offering African American churches a new, comprehensive program guide and training materials to help them incorporate the program into their activities.
GEORGIA CANCER NONPROFITS ANNOUNCE MERGER PLANS
GEORGIA CANCER FOUNDATION - October 4, 2004 - The Georgia Cancer Foundation, Inc. and Bosom Buddies of Georgia, Inc. announced plans to merge the two not-for-profit organizations effective September 30.
COALITION AND NEWSWEEK ANNOUNCE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH AWARENESS SCORES FOR CANCER CLINICAL TRIALS SPECIAL SECTION
COALITION OF NATIONAL CANCER COOPERATIVE GROUPS - September 2, 2004 - A study released today shows that cancer patients and the public are more willing than ever to consider participating in cancer research as a result of awareness efforts by the Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups and Newsweek. Ninety-seven percent of readers surveyed in the study conducted by NOP World remembered seeing the eight-page advertising section on cancer clinical trials that appeared in the June 7 issue of Newsweek magazine. Of those who recalled seeing the section, 98 percent found it very or somewhat informative and 95 percent said they will investigate clinical trials as a treatment option if confronted with cancer.
NIH OFFERS $35,000 IN ANNUAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - (August 30, 2004) - Starting Wednesday, September 1, 2004, the National Institutes of Health will accept applications to its five Loan Repayment Programs. December 15, 2004, is the application deadline.
The NIH Loan Repayment Programs can repay up to $35,000 of qualified educational debt for health professionals pursuing careers in clinical, pediatric, contraception and infertility, or health disparities research. The programs also provide coverage for Federal and state tax liabilities.
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE NATION FINDS CANCER INCIDENCE AND DEATH RATES ON THE DECLINE: SURVIVAL RATES SHOW SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE - (June 3, 2004) - The nation's leading cancer organizations report that Americans' risk of getting and dying from cancer continues to decline and survival rates for many cancers continue to improve. The "Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2001*" finds overall observed cancer incidence rates dropped 0.5 percent per year from 1991 to 2001, while death rates from all cancers combined dropped 1.1 percent per year from 1993 to 2001. According to the report's authors, the new data reflect progress in prevention, early detection, and treatment; however, not all segments of the U.S. population have benefited equally from the advances.
GOVERNOR ENDORSES CANCER HOPE & REMEMBRANCE OBSERVANCE WEEKEND
ATLANTA - (May 18, 2004) - At a gathering of cancer and oncology representatives on Tuesday, May 18, Gov. Sonny Perdue recognized by proclamation the second weekend in June as Cancer Hope & Remembrance Observance Weekend.
GEORGIA CANCER RESEARCH INITIATIVE GAINS MOMENTUM
ATLANTA - (February 20, 2004) - The Georgia Cancer Coalition today announced the recruitment of 32 leading cancer researchers from around the nation to expand its Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists (DCCS) program. Additionally, the Coalition has awarded nearly $1 million in research grants to 20 Georgia cancer investigators this year. Of this sum, Georgians have contributed nearly $800,000 through their state tax returns as part of the “Georgia Cancer Research Fund” checkoff.
JIANN-PING HSU SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEDICATED WITH UNVEILING OF PLAQUE
The first school of public health in the University System of Georgia has been dedicated at Georgia Southern University. A plaque recognizing the Jiann-Ping Hsu School of Public Health was unveiled during a ceremony in the lobby of the Hollis Building on the Georgia Southern campus on Thursday, Jan. 29.
SURVEY REVEALS GEORGIA WOMEN EXCEED NATIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY SCREENING GOALS
According to results from the 2001 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) report, the percentage of African-American women 40 years and over who have received breast cancer screenings (mammographies) increased from 70.3% to 84.1% between 1998 and 2001. The BRFSS report, issued by the Department of Human Resources, Division of Public health is the result of a yearly telephone survey conducted in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR PERDUE REGARDING THE GEORGIA CANCER COALITION
Governor Sonny Perdue today praised the service of Russ Toal to the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC). Toal resigned to the GCC Board of Directors today in order to entertain other job opportunities.
UGA RECIEVES A $6.7 MILLION GRANT
The National Center for Research Resources, a component of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded a five-year grant of $6.7 million to a team headed by scientists at the University of Georgia for research that could eventually help in the treatment of certain kinds of cancer and Parkinson’s Disease.
EMORY'S WINSHIP CANCER INSTITUTE EARNS $1.9 MILLION NCI GRANT
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and Michael Johns, executive vice president for Health Affairs and CEO of Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center, announced that Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute (WCI) has been awarded a $1.9 million National Cancer Institute Planning Grant.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROVISIONAL DESIGNATION OF GEORGIA CANCER CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
The Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) announced provisional designation of the MCG/UGA Georgia Cancer Research Center as a Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence (COE).
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF DESIGNATIONS OF REGIONAL PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE
The Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) announces the first designations of Regional Programs of Excellence(RPE).
FIRST EVER CHECK-UP DAY MAY 12
National Women’s Health Week an Ideal Time for Breast, Cervical Cancer Screenings
Atlanta (GA) In observance of National Women’s Health Week, May 11-17, the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) and the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Public Health want to remind all women to get screened for breast and cervical cancer.
National Women’s Health Week, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is an effort to raise awareness about important steps women can take to improve their health. The focus is on the importance of incorporating simple preventive and positive health behaviors into everyday life.
“Screening is one of the most important things women can do to reduce the number of breast and cervical cancer deaths,” said Kimberly Redding, M.D., MPH, medical director of DHR’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Section. “This is a great opportunity to remind all Georgia women to schedule a mammogram and/or a Pap test.”
This year’s observance of National Women’s Health Week will feature the first ever Check-Up Day on Monday, May 12, when community health centers, hospitals and other health providers across the nation will encourage women to come in for preventive health services or to schedule an appointment with their health care provider for a check-up.
National Women’s Health Week encourages awareness about key health issues among all women, especially among African American, Asian American/Native Hawaiian, Hispanic American and American Indian/Alaska Native women. Recent research has shown there are significant health disparities between these groups and white women.
According to DHR, Division of Public Health’s Georgia Cancer Registry data, African American women in Georgia are 27 percent more likely to die of cancer compared to white women. African American, Asian/Pacific Island and Latino/Hispanic women have higher rates of cervical cancer than white women.
“Minority groups in Georgia suffer disproportionately from cancer,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director of DHR’s Division of Public Health. “National Women’s Health Week is a perfect time to raise awareness about this trend. We want to help people to do everything they can to prevent cancer and discover existing cancers earlier.”
An annual mammogram and Pap test can detect breast cancer and cervical cancer early, Toomey said, and therefore dramatically improve survival rates.
Hispanic/Latino women have some of the highest rates of invasive cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is more than 90 percent curable if detected early. All women should receive an annual Pap test starting at the age of 21 or when they become sexually active.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer, and is the second leading cause of death among African American women. A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast that can detect the earliest signs of breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected early and treated at a local stage, the five-year survival rate is 97 percent. All women are encouraged to receive an annual mammogram beginning at age 40.
“The GCC and DHR, Division of Public Health have launched a statewide cancer awareness and education campaign that encourages women to get regular Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer, and to have annual mammograms to screen for breast cancer,” stated Toomey. “While the campaign reaches out to all women of Georgia, we are working especially hard to get the screening and early detection message to minorities and rural populations that traditionally have been underserved.”
GCC President Russ Toal said, “Minority populations have a lower rate of screening and early detection, therefore cancer is discovered at a more advanced stage making their mortality rates higher. In observance of National Women’s Health Week, we are encouraging all women to save a life and get checked.”
The GCC and DHR, Division of Public Health urge women to contact their health care provider or local health department for more information. Or, call 1-800-4CANCER or visit www.georgiacancer.org.
JOIN BELLS FOR REMEMBRANCE OBSERVANCE AND RAISE AWARENESS THAT BREAST CANCER SCREENING SAVES LIVES
3/31/03
By Kimberly Redding, M.D.
Medical Director, Cancer Control Section
Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health
When the Bells for Remembrance ring this Mother’s Day it will be a perfect time for all Georgians not only to remember those we have lost to breast cancer, but also to reach out to all women and urge them to practice regular breast cancer screening.
Why? Because chances are there is a special woman in your life who has or will develop breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the US. ACS projects that in the year 2003, over 211,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The Georgia Cancer Coalition reports that over 5,200 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in Georgia women last year.
Unfortunately, in the year 2002 over 1,000 Georgia women died from breast cancer. Nationwide, nearly 40,000 women will die this year from this disease.
But there is good news. Routine screening can prevent almost 15 to 30 percent of deaths from breast cancer among women 40 and older. When breast cancer is detected at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is 97%. If detected early, most women can survive breast cancer and go on to lead productive lives.
Regular clinical breast exams and mammograms are the keys to increasing survival rates. Women over 40 should have a mammogram every year. One way to show your appreciation for the special women in your life is to stress to them the importance of breast cancer screening this Mother’s Day.
HOLD A BELLS FOR REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM YOURSELF
Georgia’s religious congregations, employers, and other organizations and groups can take action and remind women of the importance of breast cancer screening by holding Bells for Remembrance ceremonies this Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 11.
Sponsored by the Breast Health Connection of Georgia (BHCG), the Bells for Remembrance program is celebrated by more than 400 Georgia area congregations and other groups through religious services, worksite forums and various community gatherings.
Imagine the good we can do if we raise the number of participating groups to 4,000 – or even higher.
A Bells for Remembrance ceremony can take many forms, it can be the actual ringing of bells; a candlelight procession; a procession of survivors; a special hymn, song or other piece of music; an inspirational reading; or a speech from a pastor, survivor, or family member.
Any organization can hold a Bells for Remembrance ceremony. Information on how your organization can take part can be found on the BHCG website, www.breasthealthga.org. You may call 1-800-982-0411 for more information.
The Bells for Remembrance public awareness program offers tools, educational materials, and local support for individual organizations to conduct their own ceremonies.
This is a great opportunity for religious congregations, employers, and other community groups to consider taking part in a program that can help save lives and reduce the suffering caused by breast cancer.
Won’t you take part? Save a Life. Get Checked.
The Cancer Awareness and Education Campaign is an initiative of the Georgia Cancer Coalition and its coalition member, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health. For more information about the campaign and other cancer education and support services, call 1.800.4CANCER (1.800.422.6237), or log on to www.georgiacancer.org.
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WOMEN: REMIND THREE FRIENDS TO GET A PAP TEST
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
WOMEN: REMIND THREE FRIENDS
TO GET A PAP TEST
It’s a stunning, yet hopeful, statistic: Nearly all of the 130 women who will die from cervical cancer in Georgia this year could have survived. Screening and early detection of cervical cancer can increase a woman’s survival rate to at least 95 percent, yet according to the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) and the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), some women do not see a doctor until it’s too late.
“Women need to help each other prevent this disease. If each one of us would take the time to remind three friends to get a regular Pap test, we could reduce the number of women who die from this disease,” says Kimberly Redding, M.D., physician director of DHR’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program of DHR.
“January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a perfect opportunity each year to bring up the subject with friends and encourage them to see their doctor and get screened,” she said.
The good news for Georgia women, Redding reports, is that a Pap test can detect cervical cancer before it spreads or even develops, dramatically improving odds of surviving the disease.
Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director, DHR Division of Public Health said, “The most important thing that women can do to protect themselves from cervical cancer is to get screened. Women of all ages need to talk to their doctor about being screened for cervical cancer. Many middle-aged women think that screening is no longer necessary. Remind your friends, your sister, your mother, that screening saves lives.”
Nancy Paris, GCC vice president, explained that new American Cancer Society guidelines recommend that women begin having Pap tests three years after becoming sexually active but not later than 21 years of age. “This is a simple test that collects a sample of cells from the cervix,” she said. “It takes a doctor just a few minutes to perform, yet the Pap test can detect cells that have a high likelihood of progressing to cancer or that are in the very early stages of cancer.”
The GCC and DHR have launched a statewide cancer awareness and education program to help inspire women to practice regular screening habits for cervical cancer and, for women over 40, to have a mammogram breast test at least annually.
The GCC and DHR urge women to contact their health care provider for advice. Or, call 1-800-4CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or visit www.georgiacancer.org.
STATEWIDE RESEARCH WILL HELP GEORGIANS BEAT CANCER
http://health.state.ga.us/publications/pressrelease/121002.shtml
CDC CANCER GRANT INCREASED
October 30, 2002
Russ Toal, president of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, and Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey, director of the Division of Public Health of the Department of Human Resources, are pleased to announce today that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has awarded the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) a 35% increase in its grant to support cancer control programs. The CDC increased Georgia’s grant amount by $1,490,530 over last year’s base award in recognition of the progress made by the statewide comprehensive cancer initiative, the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC), and its partners.
"This is a validation by CDC of the work we are doing to fight cancer through the Georgia Cancer Coalition. A continuing partnership with the CDC will be essential as we continue our efforts to combat this horrible disease," said Governor Roy E. Barnes.
The funding will expand the prostate cancer professional education and awareness effort, support the development of a colorectal cancer screening plan, expand the Breast and
Cervical Cancer Program and maintain support for the Cancer Registry and the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.
Russ Toal, Georgia Cancer Coalition President, added, “This great news about increased funding from the CDC will help move the cancer initiative forward. The partnership between the GCC and CDC in supporting Georgia will pay many dividends in our effort to become a national leader in cancer education, prevention, and leading-edge treatment and research.”
“We are very appreciative of this additional funding from the CDC,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., director of DHR’s Division of Public Health. “This grant will add to the support DHR receives from the Georgia Cancer Coalition for expanding cancer prevention and control efforts around the state.”
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM
BACKGROUND STATEMENT:
The Southeast Division of the American Cancer Society, the Department of Human Resources and the Georgia Cancer Coalition established a Community Development Grant Program to enhance their cancer control objectives at the community level.
A Review Team comprised of staff and volunteers from the Southeast Division, the Department of Human Resources and the Georgia Cancer Coalition will determine approval or disapproval of grants submitted. Grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000 to $20,000.
Funding cycles will be:
· October 15, 2002
· February 15, 2003
· June 15, 2003
PURPOSE:
1. To financially support community projects that are consistent with the cancer control objectives of the American Cancer Society Southeast Division, the Department of Human Resources and the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
2. To support community projects that have as part of their focus public awareness and public education activities which promote breast and cervical cancer screenings and early detection.
3. To focus on major cancer control objectives for prevention and detection:
Priority Outcomes:
[ ] Cervical Cancer
[ ] Breast Cancer
Other Outcomes:
[ ] Lung Cancer*
[ ] Prostate Cancer*
[ ] Colon Cancer*
*These focus areas can be included only in grants where breast and cervical are the priority outcomes.
COMPONENTS:
Community Development Grant Projects will be used to address local cancer problems and should include the following components:
1. Community Assessment
* Defines the cancer need within the community.
* Identifies the target population within the community.
* Identified the educational needs of women within the
target community.
2. Budget
* Realistic and detailed line-item budget
* No miscellaneous items
* Indicates contribution from other community groups
* Grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000 - $20,000
3. Evaluation component that measures the objectives of the project
* Impact on the American Cancer Society’s Year 2015 goals and Georgia Cancer Coalition Breast and Cervical Task Force 2010 Goals
* Defines what is success for the project and how it will be measured
* Emphasis should be placed on evaluating need and assessing effectiveness of the program delivery
4. Promotion Plan
* A plan to promote and provide visibility of the project within the community served
* Promotion activities to enhance American Cancer Society, Department of Human Resources and Georgia Cancer Coalition awareness
5. Progress Reports
* Bi-annual
* Summarizes the status of the community project and/or accountable data
FUNDING LIMITATIONS:
Listed below are the funding limitations of the Southeast Division Community Development Grant:
1. Funding for outside organizations:
* Cannot be used to fund projects that are proposed from an outside organization/agency without American Cancer Society and Department of Human Resources involvement
2. Major Capital Expenses:
* Cannot be used to fund costs for buildings, etc.
3. Cost of Medical Diagnostic Services/Treatments:
* Considered on an individual basis
* Cannot duplicate other resources
* Cannot be sole source for these costs
4. Staffing:
* Cannot fund expenses for permanent staff positions
* Contract and temporary staff positions will be considered on an individual basis
5. American Cancer Society , Department of Human Resources and Georgia Cancer Coalition Programs:
* Cannot be used to fund projects that substantially duplicate an existing American Cancer Society, Department of Human Resources or Georgia Cancer Coalition program
6. Duplication of funded programs outside the American Cancer Society, Department of Human Resources and Georgia Cancer Coalition:
* Cannot fund projects that substantially duplicate an existing program funded outside the American Cancer Society, Department of Human Resources or Georgia Cancer Coalition
APPLICATION AND PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Listed below are the submission requirements for Community Development Grants. Please review to ensure that the requirements have been met to prevent delay and/or disapproval of the Grant.
1. Complete Application Form
2. Complete Application Checklist
* Include W-9 Form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)
* Include Detailed Budget
3. Include narrative with proposal
* Proposal should be simple, concise, and no more than five to seven pages
* Proposal should include problem/need, goals and objectives of the project, plan for community assessment, partnership development, promotion/public awareness and evaluation.
4. Submit within the grant funding cycle
* All proposals must be received by 5PM on the due date
* If due date falls on a weekend, the proposal must be received by 5PM on the first workday
5. Involve American Cancer Society and Department of Human Resources community staff
* In development of grant submission
* Include letter of support from American Cancer Society and Department of Human Resources staff
6. Letters of Commitment
* Include letters of commitment from other organizations essential to the project
7. Administrative
* Do not use any binders, notebooks, or report covers
* Limit supporting materials to no more than 5 pages
* No fax copies of the grant application will be accepted
* The entire proposal with supporting documents must be received as a complete package
* Partial or incomplete applications will not be considered for review and will be returned to the Regional Cancer Control Director
Once all required signatures have been obtained, application should be forwarded to:
Brenda Wright, Director of Community Cancer Control
American Cancer Society, Southeast Division, Inc.
2200 Lake Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30319
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
SOUTHEAST DIVISION, INC.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
This checklist is to be completed by the Regional Vice President, the Regional Cancer Control Director, and the Regional Communications Director, and should be included as part of the Community Development Grant Proposal Application. The following items should be included for the Review Team to process the application.
Please indicate that the following requirements have been met by checking the space provided. Proposal includes:
[ ] A completed Community Development Grant Application Form
[ ] Project Proposal which includes:
1) Statements that clearly show the need for the project, based on a community assessment
2) Goals and objectives
3) Plan for community assessment
4) An evaluation plan
5) A promotion/public awareness plan
[ ] An itemized and justified project budget
[ ] Letters of support from the ACS community staff, DHR local staff and organizations providing in kind or financial support for the project as well as organizations essential to the project
[ ] A W-9 Form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)
[ ] Project is NOT an already existing, on-going activity funded through ACS Southeast Division or regional budget or other governmental/organizational program
Signature indicates that above requirements have been met, and that the Regional Vice President and the Regional Cancer Control Director are in agreement with the goals, objectives, and budget of the proposed project. Incomplete applications will be returned to the Regional Cancer Control Director.
_____________________________________________________ ________________________
Signature, Regional Vice President Date
_____________________________________________________ _____________________
Signature, Regional Cancer Control Director Date
_____________________________________________________ _________________________
Signature, Regional Communication Director Date
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
SOUTHEAST DIVISION, INC.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM
APPLICATION FORM
(NO FAXES ACCEPTED)
Project Title:
Amount Requested: $
SUBMITTED BY:
Organization:
Primary Contact Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone Number: ( ) Email address:
Region #:
Regional Cancer Control Director:
Major Cancer Control Project Focus:
Priority Outcomes:
[ ] Cervical Cancer
[ ] Breast Cancer
Other Outcomes:
[ ] Lung Cancer*
[ ] Prostate Cancer*
[ ] Colon Cancer*
*These focus areas can be included only in grants where breast and cervical are the priority outcomes.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM
Brief Description of Projected Outcomes Desired:
List names of major volunteers and staff, and other organizations involved in this project:
Signature of Grant Applicant:
Date:
Upon Grant Approval, make check payable to:
Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
TISSUE BANK AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES
The Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) has announced two major initiatives to expand Georgia’s research talent, capacity and infrastructure. According to President Russ Toal, "the GCC has approved grants totaling $800,000 for two tumor, serum and tissue banks." The GCC’s research focus is on creating an unparalleled environment for the pursuit of cancer discovery that builds on the capabilities of Georgia’s academic institutions and provides them with enhanced scientific resources. Toal stated, "These banks are essential to stimulating cancer research in Georgia."
The tumor, serum and tissue banks will be located in Augusta and Savannah. Grants will be made to the Medical College of Georgia, a member of the Augusta/Athens Corridor Cancer Program and to Memorial Health University Medical Center, a member of the Southeast Georgia Cancer Alliance. Both programs were recently approved for planning awards to create Regional Programs of Excellence by the GCC. The programs also have Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists in residence.
Stephen Peiper, M.D. of the Medical College of Georgia and William Hoskins, M.D. of Memorial Health University Medical Center, both GCC Distinguished Cancer Scientists, speak emphatically about the importance of this initiative. According to Dr. Peiper, chairman of the Department of Pathology and Interim Cancer Research Director at MCG, "These banks are a vital investigational resource for Georgia’s growing cancer research community. The creation of a statewide tumor, serum and tissue banking system is unique and strengthens Georgia’s cancer research environment immeasurably." Furthermore, according to Dr. Hoskins, director of the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial Health University Medical Center, " the availability of such a rich resource will enable Georgia to continue to recruit investigators and clinicians of the highest quality as well as to attract investments from pharmaceutical and biotech companies."
Concurrently, Toal announced the approval of 22 scholars for recruitment as Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists. This would bring GCC’s total recruits to 44 of the 150 pledged by Governor Roy Barnes. The new class of scholars is being recruited by leading institutions including Emory University (Winship Cancer Institute, Woodruff School of Nursing, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta), Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, University of Georgia, Mercer University/Memorial Health University Medical Center, Georgia Southern University, and Clayton State College and University. The GCC provides funding ranging from $250,000 to $750,000 over five years to support cancer-related scholarly research.
UNITE GEORGIA'S QUIT LINE EXTENDS HOURS TO MEET DEMAND
Since its launch in November 2001, more than 12,000 Georgians have called the Quit Line, 1-877-270-STOP, to receive up-to-date information and steps on how to remove tobacco from their lives. Due to the volume of calls, the free resource is extending its operating hours to ensure that Georgians can take full advantage of the line’s trained tobacco use counselors. The new hours, beginning in July, are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Quit Line will remain closed on Sundays.
"We are pleased with the success of the Quit Line in the past seven months," said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health. "By extending the hours of service, we hope to provide a larger window of time for Georgians to call and receive the help and support the Quit Line can provide."
The Quit Line’s trained counselors offer a choice of written self-help materials, referral to other resources and counseling geared to the caller’s needs. The Quit Line can be translated into 230 languages. Spanish speakers may call 1-877-266-3863.
The Quit Line, funded by the master tobacco settlement agreement, is a component of UNITE Georgia. UNITE Georgia is an initiative of the Tobacco Use Prevention Section (TUPS), DHR Division of Public Health, in partnership with the Georgia Cancer Coalition. In 1998, Georgia was awarded $4.8 billion as one of 46 states in a landmark settlement against major tobacco companies, receiving the first allocation of $150 million during the 2000 legislative session. UNITE Georgia, a state-supported and community-driven program, aims to create a better understanding and awareness of tobacco’s effect on Georgia.
THE GEORGIA CANCER COALITION (GCC) HAS ANNOUNCED EIGHT AWARDS FOR PLANNING GRANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2002
For more information contact:
Russ Toal, President
Phone: 404/584-7720
The Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) announced today eight awards for planning grants for the development of Regional Programs of Excellence. The GCC’s Regional Programs of Excellence model is designed to unite health and community resources in regional coalitions dedicated to developing innovative cancer programs. According to GCC President Russ Toal, "The designation of these awards is a significant step toward enhancing access to comprehensive cancer services across the state. "
Each regional program will receive a grant of approximately $250,000 and has identified local matching funds and in-kind resources of at least $250,000. The awardees were selected through a competitive process that solicited Requests for Proposals that were reviewed and ranked by a team of cancer experts.
The grants will be used to design and implement the region’s unique approach to addressing the GCC’s goals. These goals encompass prevention and early detection of cancer, care and treatment, education and clinical research. The regions are also expected to address the needs of the underserved including racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly and children.
Over the next six months the eight regions will work locally to establish programs and partnerships that may ultimately lead to a designation as a Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence. According to Toal, "There will be another competitive process for those who
seek formal designation. We will be working closely in the coming months to provide support and consultation to the planning awardees but there is no guarantee that they will receive designation as a Center for Excellence."
Toal further stated that, "The application from the Medical College of Georgia and the University of Georgia covering the Augusta-Athens region received the highest score. Their proposal describes a strong collaboration across institutional and community lines while focusing on leading-edge cancer research. This is the kind of approach that will make it possible for us to fulfill the promise of Governor Barnes to Georgians – to reduce the devastating impact of cancer on the state’s citizens and communities."
Georgia Cancer Coalition
Regional Programs of Excellence
2002 Planning Award Recipients
Medical College of Georgia/University of Georgia
Augusta-Athens
Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition
Albany-Thomasville
Northwest Crescent Cancer Coalition
Marietta-Carrollton
Southeast Georgia Cancer Alliance
Savannah-Statesboro-Waycross-Brunswick
Promina Health System
Greater Atlanta
West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition
Columbus
Northeast Georgia Cancer Coalition
Gainesville
Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition
Rome
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) FOR THE REGIONAL PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE
Request For Applications for the Regional Programs of Excellence
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1. Click on the link and the file will be downloaded to your computer.
2. Save the file to your desktop or a folder where you can easily find it again.
KATHY RUSSELL JOINS THE GEORGIA CANCER COALITION
Kathy Russell Joins The Georgia Cancer Coalition
The Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) is pleased to announce the retention of Kathy L. Russell as Special Advisor. Ms. Russell, who will be based in Washington, DC, will provide clinical and technical assistance on research, grants, operational and liaison matters for the GCC.
"We are fortunate that we will be able to rely upon her extensive experience and insight as we advance our efforts to provide the highest quality of care to cancer patients in Georgia, as well as accelerate our progress in finding a cure for this devastating disease," said Russ Toal, President of the GCC.
Ms. Russell is highly regarded throughout the national cancer community for her many contributions. Most recently, Ms. Russell served as the Deputy to the Director and Associate Director for Planning and Administration at the Lombardi Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Her responsibilities during her 12-year tenure at Lombardi centered upon the day-to-day operational aspects of the center, including all clinical, research and grants administration. Prior to her work at Lombardi, Ms. Russell assumed progressively responsible senior leadership positions at the NCI. Ms. Russell served as Assistant Administrative Officer and Administrative Officer for the Clinical Oncology Program, Administrative Officer for the Biological Response Modifiers Program, and Deputy Administrative Officer for the Division of Cancer Treatment during her eight years with the NCI.
Ms. Russell has been a consulting advisor to organizations like the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, the City of Hope National Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. In addition, she served as a member of numerous site visit teams for the NCI’s Cancer Center Support Grant program and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Cancer Center Administrators Forum.
She has also made substantial contributions as a volunteer in the cancer community. She was a founder of Special Love, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing enriching programs to children with cancer, and The Children’s Inn at NIH, a nonprofit that provides a family-centered residence for NIH pediatric patients and their families. Since their establishment, Ms. Russell served as president and board member of both organizations.
"I am proud to be a part of the Georgia Cancer Coalition," says Ms. Russell. "Its mission and objectives are unique, and promise to serve as a model for similar efforts across the country. I am eager to contribute to this outstanding initiative."
Created by Governor Roy E. Barnes, the Georgia Cancer Coalition brings together leading Georgia hospitals, universities, biotech firms, civic groups, and non-profit and government agencies to provide cancer research, prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.
AWARDS TO DISTINGUISHED CANCER CLINICIANS AND SCIENTISTS
MEMORANDUM
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Russ Toal, President
DATE: December 18, 2001
SUBJECT: Awards to Distinguished Cancer Clinicians and Scientists
At the initiation of Governor Roy Barnes, the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) has been created to establish Georgia as a national leader in cancer prevention, treatment, research and education. One of the first programs launched by the GCC was built on the highly successful Georgia Research Alliance model of supporting Distinguished Scholars who are recruited to Georgia. The first seventeen researchers and their academic appointments were announced by the Governor at a recent press conference. Our goal is to recruit 150 scholars over the next 5-7 years.
We recognize that there are many opportunities to accelerate cancer prevention, treatment and education through applied health. To that end, we have created a non-bench research track for awards to Distinguished Clinicians and Scientists. You are encouraged to give consideration to opportunities within your organization, institution or consortium to apply for support. We are seeking experts who have made significant contributions in their field, who will take a leadership role in moving Georgia to a national position of prominence in cancer prevention, treatment, research and education.
The category of applied health is purposely broad to allow for maximum flexibility in defining a field of study that takes advantage of organizational strengths. While we do not have preconceived notions about the specific background of the scholars the GCC will support, we have an interest in clinical education, program evaluation, epidemiology, health services research and outcomes measurement, econometrics or actuarial science, pain control and palliation, quality of life issues, health profession development and consumer behavior.
Awards are expected to range from $50,000 - $150,000 per year for a period of three to five years ($150,000 to $750,000 over the length of the study.) Funds may be used to support salaries, equipment and other direct costs.
The requirements for consideration are:
The clinician or scientist must be recruited from out-of-state to be eligible for consideration. An individual in Georgia for less than six months also may be considered.
A Georgia-based organizational sponsor is required and must commit to match the award on a no less than 1:1 basis (in-kind resources are acceptable). The sponsor could be a hospital, health system, physician group or association, professional organization, non-profit organization or academic institution.
The clinician or scientist should intend to remain in Georgia for no less than three to five years.
The sponsoring organization and the clinician or scientist must agree to acknowledge funding from the GCC and to share their work related activities or findings via GCC mechanisms.
Priority will be given to multi-party applications which can demonstrate leverage through collaboration, have multiple reliable sources of funding, and which are committed to growing the body of cancer science in Georgia.
Proposed scholars should have a demonstrated ability or potential to secure external grant support.
The requirements for application are:
Completion of the attached application cover sheet.
A description of the applicant, organization and any related parties.
A two-page summary of the proposed research and its applicability to advancing the body of knowledge relative to cancer prevention, treatment or education.
A curriculum vitae for the proposed scholar.
A budget for the life of the project specifying the organizational match, its source, and the amount requested from the GCC.
The anticipated economic benefit to be derived from placement of the scholars' submission.
These materials should be sent to Nancy M. Paris, Vice President, GCC. There will be two dates in the first quarter: January 31 and March 29, 2002. You may contact Nancy at (404) 588-4083 or nparis@georgiacancer.org if you have questions or would like to discuss your proposal.
A peer review committee will be established by the GCC in conjunction with the Georgia Research Alliance. This committee will review applications and recommend awards and funding levels. Determinations will be made on a rolling basis in response to requests.
Please feel free to share this information with colleagues who may be interested in the opportunity. We will have additional funding cycles in the coming year for both academic and applied research and will notify you of these opportunities.
Thank you for your consideration and support.
