$50000 grant for early lung cancer screens
Grant received to promote early detection of lung cancer
“The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford has been awarded a grant of $50,000 by the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois,” Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, Regional Dean, said today.
In Winnebago County, 189 deaths out of 250 cases of lung cancer were reported in 2013. The high mortality is likely due to late clinical diagnosis. Recently, the CDC has proposed new guidelines for early screening of lung cancer in individuals aged 55-80 with a smoking history of 20 cigarettes a day for 30 years. Using seminars and educational materials, we will educate physicians in Winnebago County to implement these guidelines. We will also attempt to translate these findings to clinical applications for improved detection and prognosis of lung cancer patients in Winnebago County which could potentially also be applied nationally,” said Dr. Stagnaro-Green.
“Our College has had long-term relationships with the local health systems and community organizations,” Stagnaro-Green said. “The grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will give us additional resources to allow our Principal Investigator, Dr. Neelu Puri, to collaborate on this initiative with OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care, the Department of Pathology at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System Chicago, Rockford Memorial Hospital, SwedishAmerican Hospital, the Winnebago County Health Department, the National Center for Rural Health Professionals, and Health Systems Research.
Since 1972, the College of Medicine at Rockford has focused on building an academic medical institution committed to education, research and innovation, and clinical service in the surrounding communities. The College has become a center for internationally recognized research efforts funded through grants awarded by government agencies, private foundations and other resources. Today, the College is a regional health sciences center, home to the regional College of Pharmacy program, the College of Nursing advanced degree program, the master's in medical biotechnology program, a public health certificate and Health Systems Research.
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is a regional leader in philanthropy. Its mission is to attract, grow, and preserve an endowment for the needs of the people of Northern Illinois.