PA Breast Cancer Coalition awards $200,000 in breast cancer research grants to Penn State Cancer Institute
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) presented $200,000 in breast cancer research grants to Penn State Cancer Institute researchers on Thursday. Gail Matters, MS, PhD, associate professor of Medicine and Molecular and Precision Medicine, and Chan Shen, PhD, professor of Surgery, each received $100,000.
Matters will use PBCC funding to study the detection and treatment of stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Her team has developed small nanoparticles that, when attached to targeting molecules, will assist with the noninvasive detection of breast cancer that has spread to the bone. Matters hopes to identify and compare nanoparticle-targeting agents that will detect late-stage breast cancer.
Shen’s team is focused on the impact of breast density notification legislation. Dense breast tissue increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer and can make breast cancer difficult to detect on a regular mammogram. Many states, including Pennsylvania, now have laws in place requiring providers to notify women of their breast density level to develop the best screening options. Dr. Shen will examine data from states with such laws in place with the goal of determining whether patient outcomes benefited from the legislation.
PBCC has awarded $1.3 million in grants to Penn State scientists through its Research Grants Initiative.
Matters and Chen attended a grant award ceremony alongside members of the PBCC, PA Sen. Patty Kim and PA Rep. Tom Mehaffie.
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