February 23, 2001

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded $600,000 from the Penny Severns Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund to nine Illinois researchers to advance the understanding of breast and cervical cancer and to investigate techniques effective in its early detection, prevention and treatment.

"Through this innovative funding source, institutions can continue efforts to improve on how we respond to the unique health needs of women," said Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director. "For seven years, Illinois residents have helped to support this program's activities by contributing to this special research fund. Last year, taxpayer contributions exceeded $244,000."

The special fund was established in 1994 and renamed in 1999 to honor the late state Sen. Penny Severns, who died from breast cancer. In addition to taxpayer contributions through their state income tax returns, the fund receives an appropriation of $250,000 in general revenue funds. Since the fund first appeared on the 1993 state tax form, taxpayers have donated more than $1.1 million, which has been used to support 55 research projects.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Illinois women and an estimated one out of every eight women will develop breast cancer. More than 46,000 women in the United States are expected to die this year from the disease – 2,200 of them from Illinois. Additionally, nearly 710 women in Illinois learn they have invasive cervical cancer each year and about 220 die annually from the disease.

Taxpayers can donate $1 or more to the Penny Severns Breast and Cervical Cancer Research fund (line 28e on the IL-1040 form, or item 17 on TeleFile worksheet). The amount pledged will either decrease the amount of a refund or increase the amount due. All donations are tax deductible. A fund must generate a minimum of $100,000 each year in order to appear on the next year's tax form.

Direct contributions may be made to the fund by sending a check, payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 4263, Springfield, IL 62708. The check should be clearly marked to designate it for the Penny Severns Breast and Cervical Cancer Research fund.

Following is a list of this year's grant recipients and amounts.

• Yulei Jiang, Ph.D., University of Chicago, "Development of a new computer technique for classification of breast lesions," $74,800

• Anait Levenson, M.D., Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, "Gene expression profiles with activation of ER-SERM complex," $57,500

• Lucio Miele, M.D., Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago, "Role of Notch-1 in diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer," $70,100

• Arno Mundt, M.D., University of Chicago, "Intensity modulated radiation - more - Add 2 therapy: A novel approach in the treatment of cervical cancer," $62,500

• Benette Phillip, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, "Characteristics of novel regulatory sites in the HPV18 enhancer," $55,000

• David Shapiro, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, "Antiestrogen induced cell death in breast cancer," $72,000

• Zarema Arbieva, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, "Identification of tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer based on functional screening," $62,500

• Jongsook Kim, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, "Modulation of estrogen action in breast cancer cells by xenobiotic nuclear receptors," $74,500

• Gordon Hazan, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, "A continuous risk decision aid for ductal carcinoma in situ," $71,100