June 30, 1998

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded eight grants, totaling $395,477, for breast and cervical cancer research, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, announced today.

"Research into the causes, prevention and treatment of breast and cervical cancer are at a critical turning point," said Dr. Lumpkin. " With the help of contributions from the state's citizens, Illinois is doing its part to encourage local scientists to participate in this important research. Several of these state-funded projects have been able to expand and eventually attract additional federal funds."

Invasive breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 9,200 Illinois women annually and claims the lives of 2,200 each year. Nearly 710 women in Illinois learn they have invasive cervical cancer and about 220 women die annually from the disease.

The grant monies come from the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund, a special fund to which taxpayers can contribute through their IL-1040 income tax returns, and state appropriations. Since 1994, 36 research projects have received more than $1.6 million – $504,400 of which has been contributed through the tax check-off fund.

Thirty-nine grant requests were reviewed by the Department in consultation with the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund Advisory and Peer Review committees. Members of the advisory committee include representatives of the Illinois chapter of the American Cancer Society, Y-ME, the Komen Foundation and the State Board of Health.

The eight grant recipients are –

• Susan Marie Ball, D.V.M., Ph.D., University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, "The effect of soya consumption on the developing mouse mammary gland," $39,900
• Yijan Elaine Chang, fellowship candidate, Laimonis A. Laimins, project supervisor, Northwestern University, "The interaction of HPV31 E1 with cellular proteins," $40,420
• Geoffrey L. Greene, Ph.D., University of Chicago, "Determination of the structural/molecular basis of selective estrogen agonism and antagonism in hormone sensitive tissues and cancers," $50,000
• Mary Hunjzicker-Dunn, Ph.D., Northwestern University, "Role of PKC-delta in the growth of human breast cancer cells," $75,000
• Wijbe Martin Kast, Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago, "Analysis of the signal transducing zeta chain in peripheral T-cells of patients with cervical cancer: The SCID/NOD model," $37,500
• Liang Qiao, M.D., Loyola University, "DNA vaccine to treat HPV expressing tumors," $60,000
• Bayar Thimmapaya, Ph.D., Northwestern University, "Gene therapy for breast cancer," $32,657
• Ann D. Thor, M.D., Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) Research Institute, "p53 alterations in breast cancers of smokers and non-smokers: a study of incidence and mutational spectrum," $60,000

Illinois' voluntary income tax funds must raise a minimum of $100,000 each year to remain on the IL-1040 form.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments