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.
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