CT Breast Health Initiative Announces Nearly $250,000 in Grant Awards

In the midst of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, supporters of the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CT BHI) gathered in West Hartford for an evening of dedication and determination to hear the announcement of breast cancer researchers and educators in the state who are to receive grants this year to further their work on the frontlines of the effort to realize “a world without breast cancer,” the vision of CT BHI.

The rate of female breast cancer in Connecticut’s population is the 2nd highest in the United States. It is estimated that more than 3,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in Connecticut women this year.

Nationally, 30% of female cancers diagnosed are breast cancer, and there were 298,000 new cases among women in 2023; 2,000 cases among men. A woman living in the United States has a 12.3 percent, or 1 in 8, lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. A breast cancer diagnosis is second only to lung cancer.

With generous public and corporate support from the annual Mother’s Day weekend RACE IN THE PARK and additional fundraising initiatives for two decades, more than $4.6 million and 113 grants have been provided for research and education initiatives, including the six grants just announced which totaled nearly $250,000.

“There is groundbreaking research underway right here in Connecticut that we are proud to support, thanks to our dedicated donors, participants and volunteers. And we appreciate the dedication of our grant recipients – researchers who are advancing knowledge and developing breakthroughs that are impacting lives, in Connecticut and beyond,” said Joyce Bray, president of the CT BHI Board of Directors.

The six recipients of CT BHI grants were announced for 2024:

• UCONN Health Demonstration of p53 Mutation Status of Breast Cancer Patients as defined by genomic sequencing utilizing Immunohistochemical studies with the
• Norma Pfriem Breast Center/Bridgeport Hospital Foundation - Hispanic Outreach Program - Meghan McCloat, Program Manager.
• UCONN Health Specialized 3D printed Breast Prosthetics for Connecticut Breast Cancer Mastectomy Patients who have chosen not to have reconstruction. - Meghan McCloat, Program Manager, Liisa Kuhn, Professor. Department of Biomedical Engineering.
• Saint Francis Hospital/ Trinity Health of New England - Utility of Breast MRI in Localized, Invasive Breast Cancer - Christina Metcalf, MD, Director of Breast Surgery, Comprehensive Women’s Health Center
• The Hospital of Central Connecticut Breast Health Program providing equitable access to rehab therapy and compression garments for breast cancer survivors with lymphedema who are uninsured/underserved - Linda Hodgkins, Lymphedema Clinical Program Manager.
• University of Connecticut - Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Gut Microbiome Patterns in Black and White Breast Cancer Survivors - Gee Su Yang, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing. T53 antibody DO-7 - Kevin Claffey, PhD, Alvaro Alvarez Soto, MD & Susan Tannenbaum, MD.

The mission of CT BHI, to make a difference locally in the fight against breast cancer through education and research, is characterized by the theme of this year’s RACE IN THE PARK fundraising event, held on Mother’s Day weekend - the Power of One – which emphasizes that every individual can make a difference. The popular RACE IN THE PARK brings people from throughout the region together to raise money to advance breast cancer education and research initiatives in Connecticut. It is the largest fundraiser to support leading-edge breast cancer research in Connecticut.

“100% raised in Connecticut. 100% stays in Connecticut,” Bray said. “It is our duty, necessity and privilege to keep Breast Cancer research funded locally. Every person who participates, every dollar donated, brings us closer to the next breakthrough and ultimately a cure. And we have seen the impact of research and education in Connecticut … what if CT BHI had not awarded researchers 113 grants through the years?!?“

CT BHI’s RACE IN THE PARK and the nonprofit organization’s year-round efforts bring statewide benefits. The money raised has funded grants provided to breast cancer research and education initiatives across the state, including in Bridgeport, Danbury, Farmington, Hartford, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, Norwalk, and Stamford.

In addition to announcing this year’s grant recipients, a number of recognition awards were presented during the well-attended formal ceremonies on October 17.

• The CT BHI Innovator Award was presented to the Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut (Trevor Reynolds, Michael Morgan); Italian Political Independent Club of Berlin (Sandi Souza, John Mangiafico, Patty Murphy); Smalley Elementary School in New Britain; New Britain Elks Lodge 957; and the New Britain Fire Department.
• The CT BHI Community Award was presented to veteran broadcasters Joe Furey of WTNH News8 and Jerry Kristafer of WJMJ Radio.
• The CT BHI Mission Award was presented to the Hospital of Central Connecticut, honoring their 21 years of involvement and support of CT BHI, and United Health Care, which joined the effort this past year.
• The CT BHI President’s Award was presented to extraordinary volunteers Scott Hamel, Hugh Hollinshead, Paul Archaski and Judy D’Onofrio.

In recent years, researchers at MidState Medical Center, UConn Health Center, Yale University, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Middlesex Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, Hospital of Central Connecticut and Stamford Health have been among the grant recipients, as CT BHI has continued to provide grants to Connecticut facilities on the frontlines of breast cancer healthcare and research.

CT BHI’s year-round efforts, particularly the annual RACE IN THE PARK, bring people together, affirm community spirit, and reflect a camaraderie of respect and honor, resilience and remembrance. For more information about volunteering, or to make a donation or learn about corporate sponsorships, visit www.ctbhi.org.