Hastings: Cancer research coming to south suburbs

TINLEY PARK- Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) was proud to announce the strategic partnership between the University of Illinois Cancer Center and Governors State University to perform research aimed at reducing cancer-related health disparities in Chicago’s south suburbs.

“We have an untapped talent pool of young men and women in the south suburbs,” Hastings said. “Bringing medical research to the south suburbs is another accomplishment for an area that is growing and needs expanded medical services. I am very excited for our young people to help make a difference.”

The University of Illinois Cancer Center and Governors State University recently received a four year, $1.5 million dollar grant from the National Cancer Institute which enables the partnership to provide training for independent research and to support minority undergraduate and graduate students at Governors State who are interested in health disparities research.

The grant also supports a breast cancer pilot project, which will test the efficacy of a mobile device app that lets primary care physicians screen women for elevated risk of breast cancer and provides information on genetic counseling. The research team will determine whether the use of the app influences women to make recommended follow-up appointments with genetic counselors.