July 13, 1999

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Governor George H. Ryan today announced the awarding of $2 million in grants and research fellowships to organizations and individuals throughout the state to address the special health risks faced by women.

"The purpose of these programs is to improve the lives of Illinois women of all ages," Ryan said. "Women have unique health needs and these grants support a wide variety of new approaches to meeting those needs. The initiatives recognize the critical need to educate women about the benefits of healthy lifestyles and behavioral modifications that can improve and prevent many chronic conditions."

A total of 87 grants and two research fellowships were awarded in three categories -- osteoporosis awareness and prevention ($500,000), the women's health initiative ($1,075,000) and breast and cervical cancer research ($446,663).

"My commitment has been to make women's health a top priority and these grants represent a down payment," Ryan said. "Through my fiscal 2000 budget and legislative action this past spring, funds for women's health increased by 250 percent over the previous year."

Osteoporosis grants were awarded according to several priorities. These included professional and public education; bone screenings with proper case management and follow-up; and clinical research that compares, analyzes and develops intervention strategies addressing risk factors associated with osteoporosis.

Approximately 1.25 million Illinoisans, 80 percent of them women, suffer from osteoporosis, a debilitating disease of the bones that can be prevented and, if diagnosed, treated. While often perceived as a result of aging, a proper diet and exercise can delay the disease and early interventions can halt or delay further damage.

The women's health initiatives are geared toward innovative ideas that encourage healthy behavior in women and girls. Key priorities are menopause, mental health, breast cancer, domestic violence and cardiovascular disease.

The breast and cervical cancer research grants come from Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund. This special fund is supported by taxpayer contributions through their IL-1040 income tax returns and by state appropriations. Since 1994, 46 research projects have received more than $2 million - about $615,000 of which has come from tax contributions.

Invasive breast cancer is diagnosed in about 8,500 Illinois women annually and claims the lives of 2,200 each year. Nearly 710 women in Illinois learn they have invasive cervical cancer each year and about 220 women die annually from the disease.

A list of award winners follows.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Research

• Amlan Ray Chaudhury, Ph.D., Rush Medical College, Chicago, "Thrombospondin and breast cancer," $50,000
• Geoffrey Greene, Ph.D., University of Chicago, "Determination on the structural/molecular basis of selective estrogen agonism and antagonism in hormone sensitive tissues and cancers," $74,963
• Yulei Jiang, Ph.D., University of Chicago, "Development of a new computer technique for classification of breast lesions," $50,000
• Anait Levenson, M.D., Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, "Gene expression profiles with activation of ER-SERM complex," $37,500
• Lucio Miele, M.D., Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago, "Role of Notch-1 in diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer," $70,000
• Patricia Mumby, Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago, "Health related behavior in breast cancer survivors: Relationship with time since treatment, quality of life, cancer worry and self-efficacy," $31,700
• Arno Mundt, M.D., University of Chicago, "Intensity modulated radiation therapy: A novel approach in the treatment of cervical cancer," $50,000
• Benette Phillips, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, "Characteristics of novel regulatory sites in the HPV18 enhancer," $50,000
• Michael Rudolf, Ph.D., and W. Martin Kast, Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago, "Identification of endogenously processed CTL epitopes of HPV-18 E6 and E7 proteins by immunization with chimeric virus-like particles," $35,000
• Lydia Usha, M.D., and Carol Westbrook, M.D., Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, "Genetic determinants of breast cancer progression," $35,000

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