NIH AWARDS GRANT FOR CANCER RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today the award of a $7 million National Institutes of Health grant to the University of Wisconsin to construct a cancer research facility, which will enable basic researchers and clinical investigators to work together to address the causes, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

"Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths," Secretary Thompson said. "As our population ages, the impact of prostate cancer on American men will increase. This new research facility presents a unique opportunity to advance the attack on prostate cancer and to accelerate the pace of progress against this disease."

"One of our greatest priorities is to be able to take research gained from cellular and molecular discoveries in the laboratory and translate them into treatments and cures for our nation's citizens," said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., director of NIH. "This grant will help foster interactions between basic and clinical researchers who will be located in close proximity and can work together to translate their research findings for clinical trial testing."

The grant was awarded by the National Center for Research Resources (NCCR) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), components of NIH. In addition to supporting investigators focused on the basic biology and clinical aspects of prostate cancer, the grant provides funding for research teams to design shared resources, including those related to microimaging, molecular pathology and high-throughput small molecule screening needed for new research.

The University of Wisconsin is part of NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Center Program, which supports major academic and research institutions throughout the United States to sustain broad based, coordinated, interdisciplinary programs in cancer research. These institutions are characterized by scientific excellence and capability to integrate diverse research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. The objective of the program is the advancement of cancer research to ultimately reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality.

The grant was awarded under NCRR's Research Facilities Improvement Program, which provides funding to public and nonprofit private institutions to expand, remodel and renovate existing research facilities or construct new research facilities. These facilities must support basic and clinical biomedical or behavioral research and related research training.

NCRR and NCI are part of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. NCRR is the nation's leading federal sponsor of resources that enable advances in many areas of biomedical research. NCRR support provides the scientific research community with access to a diverse array of biomedical research technologies, instrumentation, specialized basic and clinical research facilities, animal models, genetic stocks, and such biomaterials as cell lines, tissues, and organs.

NCI is the federal government's primary agency for cancer research.

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Last Revised: September 12, 2003