Governor Cuomo awards funding to epidemiologist UB for breast cancer research

BUFFALO, NY – University of Buffalo epidemiologist named one of nine New York State scientists who received funding for breast cancer research as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's initiative .

Jo Freudenheim, Professor Emeritus of UB and Chair of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the School of Public Health and Health of UB, received $ 359,024 through the "Get Screened, No Excuses" initiative of the governor. screening and treatment.

Cuomo announced Wednesday a nearly $ 3 million grant for breast cancer research.

"Breast cancer affects thousands of people in this state and, in order to provide New Yorkers with the best care, these investments will support the bright minds that study, teach and research in our colleges, universities and medical schools." .

Freudenheim, Ph.D., was one of seven researchers who received a $ 2.4 million grant for Peter T. Rowley's breast cancer research projects. Two other researchers received funding from Patricia S. Brown's breast cancer risk reduction research projects totaling just over $ 500,000. The State Department of Health has approved funding proposals for researchers.

"The grant will allow us to examine the role of the microbiome in breast cancer," Freudenheim said.

Among the collaborators of the Freudenheim project are Michael Buck, associate professor of biochemistry at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Yijun Sun, associate professor of bioinformatics at Jacobs School; Robert Genco, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Oral Biology, Periodontics and Microbiology, School of Dentistry; and Meeghan Lautner, assistant professor of clinical surgery at Jacobs School.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in New York State, according to the governor's office. Every year, more than 15,000 women in New York State are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 2,500 people die of it. Screening for breast cancer can increase the likelihood of identifying cancer at an early stage when treatment is most effective.