BSU RECEIVES KOMEN RESEARCH GRANT

BOISE STATE RESEARCHERS TO TEST THEORY ABOUT THE CAUSE OF BREAST CANCER’S PAINFUL SPREAD TO THE BONE, WITH FUNDS FROM SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE®

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Affiliate Contact Person John Hammarley
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Local phone number 972-855-1604
local email address JHammarley@komen.org

BOISE STATE RESEARCHERS TO TEST THEORY ABOUT THE CAUSE OF BREAST CANCER’S PAINFUL SPREAD TO THE BONE, WITH FUNDS FROM SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE®
World’s Largest Breast Cancer Organization Investing More than $1.3 Million into Idaho for Research and Community Programs

BOISE – July 13, 2010 – Boise State University researchers will investigate whether an antibody therapy already in existence can stop breast cancer from spreading to the bone, with a grant announced today by Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader in the breast cancer movement.

The $600,000 Komen for the Cure grant will support research at Boise State for the coming year and is part of a $59 million portfolio of research grants that Komen is investing with scientists worldwide to find the cures for breast cancer and to end the disease for women and men around the globe.

“We’ve made huge progress in 30 years, and I’m always very gratified when I meet women who are surviving even late-stage breast cancers for many years,” said Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “Nevertheless, we have a tremendous urgency to deliver the cures for aggressive cancers that are so serious and difficult, and to improve quality of life for breast cancer survivors as we look for those cures.” BSU scientists will study whether the protein known as Oncogene M contributes to the spread of breast cancer to the bone in different parts of the body and if it does, they say clinical trials could be created to test methods of stopping it. “Komen’s infusion of millions of dollars into research projects means that promising research that is designed to treat and ultimately eradicate breast cancer will continue,” said Eric Winer, M.D., Komen’s chief scientific advisor.

Komen by the Numbers in Idaho:
In addition to research, Komen Idaho Affiliates invested more than $783,000 in their local communities last year for early detection and treatment of breast cancer, breast health education and outreach.
Nationwide, Komen Affiliates invested a total of $130 million in their local communities in 2009. During the past 28 years, Komen has invested more than $900 million to community education and support programs worldwide. Komen also has funded $450 million in research globally, starting with Komen’s first grant in 1982 for $28,000. In the past four years alone, Komen has provided $300 million to research programs.

Below is the local institution, the researcher and the project Komen is funding this year, pending agreements:
Boise State University * Cheryl Jorcyk, Ph.D., $600,000, Analysis of oncostatin M in breast cancer metastasis to bone for the purpose of inhibiting disease progression

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
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