HU awarded $440,000 grant for cancer education, research

Hampton, VA - Hampton University was recently awarded a $440,000 grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The grant, Environmental Oncology Partnership, was awarded to the HU Schools of Pharmacy and Science in collaboration with the University of Pittsburg Cancer Institute (UPCI).

The partnership between Hampton University and the UPCI was established in 2003 with an initial grant from NCI.

The $440,000 grant has two components, education and research. The education initiative will consist of two new courses that will be implemented in the cancer curriculum at HU. The two courses will be jointly taught by HU and University of Pittsburgh professors via videoconference and will focus on molecular and environmental epidemiology.

“The main goal of this partnership is to work together to increase the number of minority scientists in cancer research, which in turn will help reduce cancer health disparities in minorities,” said Dr. Cecile Andraos-Selim, associate professor in the Hampton University Department of Biological Sciences.

The research component will consist of extensive research in environmental oncology, which entails the examination of the possible mechanisms by which organophosphate pesticides may damage DNA to induce childhood leukemia.

“Maintaining access to current research techniques produces positive contact between the students and faculty, promotes active learning and builds mutual cooperation among the students,” said Dr. Marilyn Saulsbury, associate professor in Hampton University the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.