CT Breast Health Initiative to Award $80,000 in Grants

The Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CT BHI) has announced that it will be awarding 2020 grants totaling $80,000 to three Connecticut organizations to further their efforts in breast cancer research, education and support. The awards come during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and despite the fact that CT BHI’s major annual fundraiser – the Mother’s Day weekend RACE IN THE PARK – was cancelled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Receiving the grants will be:

• Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center – awarded $5,000
• The Hospital of Central Connecticut – awarded $25,000
• University of Connecticut Health Center – awarded $50,000

During the past 16 years, CT BHI has awarded just over $4 million in grants to Connecticut researchers and educators.

“What’s raised in Connecticut, stays in Connecticut,” explains Joyce Bray, president of the CT BHI Board of Directors. “We are very proud of the support we continue to receive from sponsors, donors, volunteers, and participants. Those efforts translate into tangible support for cutting-edge research and programmatic initiatives, right here in Connecticut.” Noting that grant making was reduced this year due to COVID-19, Bray requested donations to CT BHI because “we honestly do not want to halt our researchers’ important work.”

The Hospital of Central Connecticut

Hartford HealthCare and The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC) Cancer Institute treat hundreds of patients with breast cancer related lymphedema, a chronic and progressive swelling disease. This condition requires daily use of compression garments that are often not covered by insurance, and the cost can be devastating to cancer survivors. The Hospital of Central Connecticut plans to educate and provide therapy garments to uninsured, underinsured and high-deductible health insurance breast cancer patients through the Rehabilitation for Breast Health Program to prevent or alleviate symptoms of lymphedema.

The CT BHI grant will provide funding to patients of the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at HOCC and HOCC's Rehabilitation for Breast Health Program to assist with these out-of-pocket expenses, including items such as compression arm sleeves, gloves, and bras. The funding not only supports breast cancer survivors with the financial burden of having lymphedema, but assures patients that they are not alone in dealing with this challenging disease.

“This $25,000 grant is beyond generous and greatly appreciated. We can’t thank the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative enough for making this donation to the Cancer Institute. The money will allow us to offer these therapy garments to some of our patients at no cost, which will be a huge relief to them. Moments like that can have a big impact on someone’s care,” said Kristoffer Popovitch, director of the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at The Hospital of Central Connecticut.

UConn Health

UConn Health’s Biomedical Engineering Department will receive funding to assist its Personalized 3D Printed Breast Forms Project, which will create personalized 3D breast forms for breast cancer patients who have had a mastectomy, but have not had breast reconstruction.

The personalized, 3D printed, form will replace the standard form which women say are uncomfortable, heavy, sweaty and not an exact match. The 3D printed breast form is a prosthetic that will not be implanted, but used within a bra or swimsuit to restore symmetry and aesthetics. This form will be different from those made previously, due to recent advances in 3D scanners and 3D bioprinters. It will be a porous 3D lattice covered with a breathable fabric that is a match in both the front and back of the women’s shape. It is an advance that will make a difference in women’s lives as they navigate the challenges of breast cancer. The funds will strengthen the partnership between UConn Health Biomedical Engineering and the Carole and Ray Neag Cancer Comprehensive Center, and confidential feedback will be sought from women to further optimize the design.

“This new design for a breast prosthesis will have a significant impact on our patients’ quality of life after mastectomy. We are excited to be able to offer it to our patients at UConn Health,” said Christina Stevenson, MD, MS, FACS, Assistant Professor of Surgery at UConn Health. “This research project will let me, and the female engineering students helping me, directly help women cancer survivors overcome challenges and concerns over their appearance post-mastectomy,” added Liisa Kuhn, BS, MS, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UConn Health.

Saint Francis Hospital

The grant awarded to Saint Francis Hospital, a member of Trinity Health Of New England, responds to an application by the Hoffman Breast Health Center Community Outreach/Education Program. The funding will be applied towards patients’ transportation costs to the Karl J. Krapek, Sr. Comprehensive Women’s Health Center at Saint Francis, where the Hoffman Breast Health Center is housed, for mammography and follow-up appointments. The Hoffman Breast Health Center Community Outreach Program aims to reduce late-stage breast cancer diagnoses among medically underserved women in the Greater Hartford area.

“The Hoffman Breast Health Center at Saint Francis has long been committed to providing the most comprehensive and technologically advanced services to women, whether they need a breast health screening or they have received a problem diagnosis,” stated Lynn B. Rossini, regional vice president of philanthropy and chief development officer, Saint Francis Foundation. “This grant will support us as we continue in our efforts to educate the most vulnerable in our communities about breast cancer and the importance of an early diagnosis through screening services. We are grateful to the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative for their tireless efforts to improve the well-being of every woman in our community, even throughout the challenges of the global pandemic.”

The Connecticut Breast Health Initiative, Inc. (CT BHI), a statewide nonprofit, makes a significant impact in the quest to find a cure for breast cancer by providing grants to support education and research in Connecticut. CT BHI is a volunteer based organization, and all money raised stays in Connecticut.

“This has been a very challenging year for health care professionals and for people in every walk of life,” said Bray. “The heartache and tragedy we have witnessed throughout our communities underscores the importance of our efforts to do all we can to advance research and education to sustain the health of people we love and care about. Together, we will impact thousands of lives in Connecticut and continue to close in on a cure.”

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Over 211,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the U.S., including 16,000 men. About 40,000 women die of breast cancer annually; about 85 percent of the women diagnosed have no family history of breast cancer.

2021 Grant Applications Due February 1; RACE IN THE PARK Returns May 8, 2021

Connecticut cancer researchers seeking grant funding from the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative have until February 1 to submit formal letters of intent for 2021. CT BHI often funds research leading to Federal grants specifically in the areas of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. In addition, CT BHI funds educational programs and initiatives that support breast cancer awareness, treatment, quality of life, and survivorship. CT BHI requires an initial Letter of Intent (LOI) as a precursor for full grant application consideration.

The RACE IN THE PARK is held annually on the day before Mother’s Day. The immensely popular statewide fundraising event was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, which was the first time since the annual RACE began in 2005 in which it was not held. The 2021 RACE day is May 8.

Each year, the Connecticut community comes together as thousands gather to participate in RACE day festivities and events while honoring survivors, remembering loved ones, celebrating life and most importantly, raising much-needed funds to advance the fight against breast cancer in Connecticut. For more information, visit www.ctbhi.org.