UNT Health Science Center, Fort Worth, receives second CPRIT cancer prevention grant

July 20, 2010 • Uncategorized

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has awarded an additional cancer prevention grant, totaling nearly $300,000, to the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (UNTHSC), under the direction of principal investigator Kathryn Cardarelli, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology and director of the Center for Community Health at UNTHSC.

This grant is in addition to previous funding of an almost equal amount, nearly $300,000, directed toward breast cancer education in Dallas County.  The new grant, awarded June 18, 2010, will focus on cervical cancer prevention in Tarrant County, Texas, which includes Fort Worth and surrounding communities.  With this grant, UNTHSC’s Center for Community Health, Primary Care Research Institute and ForHER, in collaboration with Tarrant County Public Health, will conduct community and clinical outreach to educate parents and youth about the HPV vaccine.  The HPV vaccine prevents infection from the types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer.

According to CPRIT Executive Director Bill Gimson, “Texas is leading the way in cancer research and prevention efforts.”  CPRIT’s goal is to expedite innovation and commercialization in the area of cancer research and to enhance access to evidence-based prevention programs and services throughout the state.