UCHC Receives Gift to Recruit
From the winter 2008 issue of UConn Momentum
A new three-year, $300,000 grant from the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CT BHI) will support the recruitment of a nationally recognized physician-researcher and significantly enhance basic, translational and clinical research in breast cancer at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the UConn Health Center.
CT BHI announced the grant at its fifth anniversary ceremony on October 16. The organization’s mission is to make a difference locally in the fight against breast cancer through education and research. To accomplish this mission, CT BHI funds a diversified portfolio of clinical/translational research projects.
Marsha Goldstein, co-chair of the CT BHI grants committee and a 15-year breast cancer survivor, says that the UConn Health Center’s position and reputation for cancer care set it apart.
“UConn is our hospital,” she says. “Everyone knows it’s the state’s flagship hospital, and we’ve always respected it and have been proud of the work done there. Choosing a grant recipient was a decision for us about who we would most want to be identified with, and UConn responded to our challenge.”
Carolyn D. Runowicz, M.D., director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center and also a breast cancer survivor, says that the collaboration with CT BHI will help build a regional center of excellence in breast cancer at the Health Center.
“To make advances in cancer, a multidisciplinary approach is required,” she says. “With CT BHI’s support, we will be able to attract and recruit a world-class team to take our research and care to the next level. This regional center of excellence will not only benefit women in Connecticut and the region, but new discoveries will also affect the hundreds of thousands of women living with breast cancer.”
Joyce Bray, president of CT BHI, says the organization is excited about the partnership with UConn, and sees it as a continuation of the advances in research and treatment that the field has seen in recent history.
“We’re finally realizing the research component to all the breast cancer questions that are out there,” she says. “In the last 40 or 50 years, we’ve moved past simply diagnosing breast cancer to today’s detection, prevention and treatment strategies. It’s a complicated disease and there are many answers, but it would be great if one of them could be found at UConn.”
She and Runowicz believe the selection of the program’s initial recruits will be a key part of that process. The program is currently led by Drs. Susan Tannenbaum and Kevin Claffey.
“Finding the right person to join this program is important. This grant will allow us to recruit a clinician-scientist to work with the outstanding group of breast cancer investigators at UCHC.,” Runowicz says. “I’m confident we will find someone whose reputation for outstanding care and research will set us apart.”
Goldstein and co-chair Judy Donofrio believe the time is right for making great advances in finding a cure for breast cancer.
“We’re getting closer to a cure,” Goldstein says. “There are so many more options for treatment now than there ever have been, but there are still too many women—and especially too many younger women—with breast cancer. It’s a fight that keeps us passionate and focused, and we found that UConn’s passion matches ours. We’re all on the same page.”
To support the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, please contact the Office of Development & Almuni Relations at 860.679.1122.
