The State of Georgia is home to two national forces in Cancer Control.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Cancer Prevention and Control is located in Atlanta, Georgia. As a leader in nationwide efforts to ease the burden of cancer, the CDC works with national cancer organizations, state health agencies, and other key groups to develop, implement, and promote effective strategies for preventing and controlling cancer.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. ACS is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Many organizations in the state have achieved national recognition. The following sections will detail major achievements:
- National Cancer Institute Cancer Center designation
- Pilot program selection for the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP)
- The NCI Community Clinical Oncology Program
- The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Membership in the Association of American Cancer Institutes.
- Cancer Prevention Research Centers
Other significant grants, awards and recognitions have included:
Clark Atlanta University
2007: NIH and National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities awards a $6.5 million grant to establish a Center of Excellence for Prostate Cancer Research, Education and Community Services.
2008: NIH awards $7.2 million, 5-year grant for the study of prostate cancer in African America men.
Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute
2003: Awarded a $1.9 million NCI Planning grant to assist in establishing research programs required for NCI designation.
2004: United States Department of Defense (DOD) awards $10 million for prostate cancer research.
2006: NCI awards $7.9 million, 5-year grant to study cell signaling in lung cancer.
2007: NCI awards a 5-year, $12.5 million Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant in head and neck cancer.
2008: The National Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIEHS) awards a 5-year, $7.4 million grant to study links between oxidative stress and colorectal cancer.
2009: NCI names Emory University’s Chemical Biology Discovery Center one of 11 member institutions of a new nationwide NCI Chemical Biology Consortium. (CBC)
2009: The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) has received 36 years of continuous funding from NCI, including this 6-year extension and $60.5 million grant.
Emory/Rollins School of Public Health
2001: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Legacy Foundation and American Cancer Society award $15 million grant to establish The Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium. (TTAC)
Emory/Georgia Tech
2004: NIH awards $7.1 million to develop the Bioengineering Research Partnership (BRP) program “Linking Biomarkers with Cancer Behavior.”
2005: NCI awards $19.5 million towards the development of the Center for Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNE) for the Nanotechnology Center for Personalized and Predictive Oncology.
Georgia Department of Human Resources
2002: $3.4 million grant for early detection equipment
2002: Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Initiative
Georgia’s Comprehensive Cancer Registry
Since 2002: Gold certification by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACR) and the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)
Georgia Society for Clinical Oncology (GASCO)
2009: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) affiliate grant to survey, educate and plan organization for Cancer Patient Navigators of Georgia.
Grady Health System/Morehouse School of Medicine/Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute
2004: NIH awards $3.7 million grant to study the root cause of disparities in cancer diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.
Grady Health System/Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute
2003: Avon Foundation commits $4.3 million to the Breast Center.
2009: Avon Foundation awards a 1-year, $950,000 grant to support community outreach, patient navigation and breast cancer research at the Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center at Grady.
John B. Amos Cancer Center, Columbus Regional Medical Center
2009: Selected by the Association of Community Cancer Centers as one of 6 national pilot sites for a patient navigation project, which will help patients, survivors, families and caregivers chart a course through the healthcare system and overcome barriers to quality care.
Morehouse School of Medicine
The National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer III: Community Networks Program (NBLIC III: CNP) at the Morehouse School of Medicine is a large-scale national Community Networks Program (CNP) aimed at reducing cancer health disparities among African Americans.
University of Georgia
2003: National Center for Research Resources (NCCR) a component of NCI, awards a 5-year, $6.7 million grant for study of Parkinson’s disease and certain kinds of cancer.
2003: UGA becomes a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-designated Center for Biomedical Glycomics; awarded $6.2 million.
2008: NIH 5-year grant of $8.3 million for research on stem cells and other cancer cells.