Breast Cancer In African American Women Molecular Analysis Of Differences In Incidence And Outcomes

Breast cancer mortality in higher among West African and African American women than it is among caucasian women in the United States, but the reasons for theses difference are not known. To devise effective methods for preventing breast cancer, we must understand which factors alone or in combination raise the risk of triggering a tumor, and which factors protect against the disease. Specific goals for the proposed research are to: (I) identify and validate the risk factors that can be modified to reduce breast cancer risk, and (2) achieve a better understanding of how various genetic and environmental factors interact to affect the risk of breast cancer. To reach these goals, we need a multidisciplinary training program and greater collaboration among investigators from diverse disciplines and institutions. The goal of the current proposal is to obtain the necessary training needed to create an atmosphere at the Cancer Center at Howard University as a leading breast cancer training institute it is also critical that multidisciplinary training take place so that individuals can participate effectively in multi-investigator collaborations that bring basic research discoveries to the bedside. Breast cancer research is increasingly becoming a multidisciplinary endeavor that requires a strong training program and better communication among investigators. Appropriate animal models and models of human mammary cell and organ culture are urgently needed to accelerate progress in breast cancer research. This realm of research will require resources for necessary training, the development of animal models, technology development and access, and collaboration between Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Howard Cancer Center in diverse disciplines. Workshops in animal handling techniques by Division of Veterinary Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research will be provided for Howard investigators.