Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Centers (BCERC)

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have jointly awarded grants to establish a nationwide network of four Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Centers (BCERC). The Centers are based at Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia), The University of Cincinnati, Michigan State University, and the University of California at San Francisco.

The Primary Question
All of the Centers take aim at this central research hypothesis: There are periods of vulnerability in the development of the mammary gland, especially during puberty, when exposures to environmental agents early in life may influence breast cancer risk in adulthood. The research will use complimentary scientific approaches to studying breast cancer risk; laboratory work with experimental animals and cell cultures, and epidemiology (the study of health and disease in human populations).

Community Outreach Partners a Necessity
The Centers embrace the concept of a community of professionals, cancer advocates, and other volunteers working toward a common goal. Each Center includes both a Research Core and a Community Outreach and Translation Core. In fact, in order to qualify for funding, each facility had to exhibit a proven track record of working effectively with community grassroots organizations. These partnerships integrate the interests, talents, and networks of basic scientists, epidemiologists, translational research groups, and community advocates to create public health messages educating girls and women about the impact of specific environmental risk factors and methods for reducing exposure to those risk factors.

Separate and Together
A unique strength of the Centers is their networked organization. The central hypothesis will be examined by all four Centers, working as a coordinated whole but drawing on separate resources including research populations with different demographics and different environmental exposures. In addition to the research strength gained by the linking of distant centers, the communication and outreach efforts will also benefit. Messages for diverse audiences and populations will be targeted and funneled through local groups with specialized community understanding. One example is the community public health work described by Karli Woods-Mennuti at the Cancer and the Environment Forum hosted by BCERF in October of 2004. A description of those projects is included in the article on the Centers in the Winter 2005 issue of The Ribbon and in the October 2004 forum summary posted on our web site and printed in the Winter 2005 issue of The Ribbon.

More Information
The web site for the Centers is www.BCERC.org. The Winter 2005 issue of The Ribbon highlights the work of the Centers in a detailed and informative article. BCERF will continue to follow the Centers and their research and provide updates.