Georgia awarded nearly $900,000 for Breast Cancer Research and Education by CDC

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE) announced today that Georgia is one of three states to receive a cooperative agreement grant for $900,000. Over the next three years, the grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will address the needs of women ages 18 to 49 at high risk for developing breast cancer
.
Georgia now joins Michigan and Oregon in receiving the funding to
continue ongoing CDC-supported work in breast cancer genomics. The funding was issued as part of the federal Education Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act.

The Department will partner with Georgia CORE to implement the Georgia Breast Cancer Genomics Education, Surveillance, and Policy Program (GBCG ESP), allowing DPH to benefit from the organization*s ability to attract ongoing support and resources to assure program sustainability beyond the years of CDC funding.

The collaboration includes two academic partners to provide clinical
and scientific expertise in the development of the genomic program. They include the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM).

The Georgia Breast Cancer Genomics program will foster evidence-based recommendations for breast cancer genomic tests and other interventions and may lead to trials for larger breast cancer genomics efforts.

*Georgia women are diagnosed with breast cancer more than any other cancer, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in our state,* said Kimberly Redding, MD, Director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program with the Georgia Department of Public Health. Through this program, we have the opportunity to reach populations that are rural, underserved and at high risk for breast cancer.*

Nancy Paris, President and CEO of Georgia CORE will serve as program director for the cooperative agreement award. *We are thrilled to be among a small group of award recipients for what will be a significant contribution to breast cancer education, surveillance and policy in Georgia,* said Paris.

The Department and Georgia CORE collaborated with the Winship Cancer Center of Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine and the Georgia Health Policy Center at Georgia State University*s Andrew Young School of Policy to establish education, surveillance and policy goals for the cooperative agreement award. The work will enhance activities to promote breast cancer genomics by increasing testing and counseling and develop programs to increase public knowledge about family history, risk assessment, and genetic counseling and testing. The work may also increase insurance coverage of gene testing and clinical interventions for patients at high risk for breast cancer.

Emory will begin piloting a screening tool to identify high risk women
that will eventually be disseminated for use throughout the state in
geographically defined population centers where racial and ethnic
disparities are present. Phase I of the genomics program will focus on public health districts in Macon, Savannah and DeKalb County, and Phase II will expand to public health districts in Augusta, Columbus, as well as Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties.

About Georgia Department of Public Health
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency
responsible for the health of Georgia*s communities and the entire
population. In 2011, the General Assembly restored DPH to its own state agency after more than 30 years consolidated under other departments. At the state level, DPH is divided into numerous divisions, sections, programs and offices, and at the local level, DPH functions via 18 health districts and 159 county health departments. Through the changes, the mission has remained constant - to protect the lives of all Georgians. Today, DPH*s main functions include: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Maternal and Child Health, Infectious Disease and Immunization, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Emergency Preparednessand Response, Emergency Medical Services, Pharmacy, Nursing, Volunteer
Health Care, the Office of Health Equity, Vital Records and the State
Public Health Laboratory. For more information on DPH, visit
www.health.state.ga.us.

About the Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE) Georgia CORE was established in 2003 as a catalyst to increase availability of and access to clinical trials - qualities known to be innovative hallmarks of quality cancer care. The Board of Directors, composed of community oncologists, scientists, nurses and educators, represents leading private practices, cancer centers, academic institutions and all programs in Georgia funded by the National Cancer Institute. Georgia CORE is a private non-profit funded by the Georgia Cancer Coalition - an initiative of the Georgia Research Alliance, Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology, Emory University and the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation. More information is at www.georgiacore.org, and in early 2012, a comprehensive interactive-based information center will be available at www.GeorgiaCancerInfo.org.