Investigating why Black Women are at Increased Risk of Early Breast Cancer
October 5, 2009
A UB genetic epidemiologist is parterning with the Witness Project, a nation-wide cancer information program targeting African-Americans, to conduct the first national study of genes that increase breast cancer susceptibility in African-American families.
The "Jewels in Our Genes" study, funded by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, developed at lightning speed in the usually slow-paced world of grant funding: from proposal to a three-year, $431,395 commitment in five months.
Heather Ochs-Balcom, assistant professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine and principal investigator on the study, happened upon this opportunity when she attended an informational session on new grant programs sponsored by the Komen Foundation.
One particular program, Career Catalyst in Disparities Research, was funding grants to study the genetics of breast cancer disparities. It was designed specifically to foster the independent careers of junior scientists while answering important questions about a disease that disproportionally affects young African-American women.
Listening to the grant requirements, Ochs-Balcom realized she met all the qualifications: As a genetic epidemiologist, she focused on the role of genetic factors in determining health and disease in families and in populations, and she was a young researcher, a "junior scientist."
Meanwhile, Deborah Erwin, co-founder of the national Witness Project and director of the Office of Health Disparities in Roswell Park Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, had been approached by Veronica Meadows Ray, a breast cancer survivor and member of the local Witness Project group.
Ray, who also is involved in RPCI's cancer survivor programs, wanted to know if a study could be conducted to determine why a family like hers developed several cases—her mother, aunt and several cousins also had breast cancer—even though they don't carry the known BRCA gene mutations.
The pieces critical to conducting the "Jewels in Our Genes" study began to fall into place.
After hearing the grant requirements, Ochs-Balcom approached Erwin at the Komen grant seminar and told her she specializes in family studies. Erwin then told Ochs-Balcom about Ray's family.
