University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Announce New Research Funding

PITTSBURGH, December 11, 2007 – Innovative research conducted by faculty of the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences contributes to a better understanding of the causes and origins of disease and aids in the development of more effective treatment approaches. Government and private-sector funding is critical to this process of scientific inquiry. The following cancer-related projects recently have been awarded grants that will enable the continuation of existing projects or the pursuit of new areas of investigation:

Predictors of Adherence to Hormonal Therapy in Breast Cancer

Catherine M. Bender, PhD, RN, associate professor, department of health and community systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, received a $199,938 research grant from the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation. The grant, entitled "Predictors of Adherence to Hormonal Therapy in Breast Cancer," will provide a comprehensive assessment of adherence to oral hormonal therapy in women with breast cancer and identify those factors that predict non-adherence to hormonal therapy including cognitive impairment, side effects of therapy and perceived poor treatment efficacy. Results of this study will provide the basis for the development of rational interventions to promote adherence to prescribed doses and correct intervals of administration of hormonal agents in women with breast cancer.

Molecular Markers of Outcome in Childhood Oligodendrogliomas

Ian F. Pollack, MD, professor of neurological surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, co-director, Brain Tumor Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and chief, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, received a $150,000 award from the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation for his project entitled, "Molecular Markers of Outcome in Childhood Oligodendrogliomas." This project will build upon another on the molecular biology of pediatric malignant gliomas, which was awarded its third cycle of funding last year.

The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences include the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Graduate School of Public Health. The schools serve as the academic partner to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Together, their combined mission is to train tomorrow's health care specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease and participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Since 1997, Pitt and its affiliated university faculty have ranked among the top 10 educational institutions in grant support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

For additional information about the Schools of the Health Sciences, please visit www.health.pitt.edu .

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