Vol. 14 Issue 2, Spring/Summer 2009

Reinstatement of State-funded BCERF Environmental Chemical Research and Educational Programming: Acknowledgements and Staff Update
The Ribbon 

Over the summer we will be working on a re-design of The Ribbon newsletter. We welcome your input and ideas on ways to improve layout and readability. Contact Carmi Orenstein at cso1@cornell.edu or (607) 255-1185.

We are pleased to tell Ribbon readers that our work on the cancer risk of environmental chemicals is fully funded for the fiscal year 2009-2010 (through March 31, 2010). We extend our sincere appreciation to Assemblyman Marc Alessi for spearheading the effort to include BCERF in the New York State budget, as well as to Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, Assemblywoman Pat Eddington, and Senator Craig M. Johnson.

This state funding from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health supports BCERF's translational research and associated educational programs on the cancer risk of environmental chemicals encountered in the home and workplace. We are delighted that we can continue to bring New Yorkers the latest research findings and develop new educational programs as well as continue our newsletter, website, and Cancer Forums to promote cancer prevention strategies and activities.

We have experienced several staff changes during this recent period of uncertainty. Current staffing within the state-funded part of the BCERF program:

• Rodney L. Page, M.S., D.V.M., Alexander de Lahunta Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences, Professor of Medicine, and Director of the Sprecher Institute for Comparative Cancer Research, provides administrative direction and oversight.
• Suzanne Snedeker, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of Translational Research.
• Carmi Orenstein, M.P.H., is Assistant Director, Health Educator, and Editor of The Ribbon.
• Lyn (formerly Netter) Park is Administrative Assistant.
• Barbour Warren, Ph.D., BCERF Research Associate (funded primarily by a grant from the USDA), will be devoting some of his time to projects within this year’s NYS grant.
• Nellie J. Brown, M.S., C.I.H., Director of Workplace Health and Safety Programs for the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, will continue to collaborate on BCERF’s carcinogens in the workplace projects.

We express our deep gratitude and very best wishes to former BCERF staff members who are no longer working with us:

• Heather Dantzker, Ph.D., Research Associate was responsible for risk perception research, web database on the cancer risk of turf pesticides, and outreach to pesticide applicators and trainers on reducing cancer risk.
• Chris Batman-Mize, M.S.W., was the Outreach Coordinator for the BCERF Alert brochure and Protection is Prevention poster on workplace chemicals that may affect breast cancer risk of female firefighters and emergency responders.
• Heather Mira Stone, M.P.H., was Program Manager for the Estrogen Connections project on environmental estrogens found in everyday products.

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Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors
Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine
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