Capitol News

Four researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have secured grants exceeding $3 million from the American Cancer Society (ACS) to advance efforts in the prevention, detection, and treatment of colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer. The ACS aims to support innovative research projects through this funding.

William Dahut, the chief scientific officer at ACS, expressed enthusiasm about the funded projects, stating, "We take our commitment to funding cutting-edge cancer research seriously and intend to do so well into the future. We are excited about the innovative projects we were able to fund and look forward to growing this investment. We are also thrilled to welcome these new grantees into our ACS Research Family and wish them the best of luck with their important work."

The grants will focus on various aspects of cancer research:

Todd Lucas, a social and health psychologist, and C.S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health with the MSU College of Human Medicine, will receive $1.7 million over five years to focus on improving the acceptance and use of take-home colorectal screening tests among African Americans. Lucas emphasized the importance of utilizing recommended cancer screenings, saying, "The cure for cancer isn’t in the future. It’s here and now in the form of making use of recommended cancer screenings that are proven to save lives."

Bryan Smith, an associate professor of biomedical engineering with the MSU College of Engineering, will use a $792,000 grant to develop a precision nanotherapy for breast cancer treatment, aiming to reduce side effects and enhance therapeutic effectiveness. Smith noted, "Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women."

Eran Andrechek, a professor in the Department of Physiology with the MSU College of Human Medicine, plans to utilize a $297,000 grant to investigate how breast cancer spreads to organs like the liver and lymph nodes and how this spread might be blocked. Andrechek highlighted the significance of understanding metastasis: "We want to know what drives these tumors to spread to specific organs."

Olivia Aspiras, an academic research specialist at the MSU College of Human Medicine, has been allocated $217,000 to devise culturally appropriate messaging for African American parents regarding the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, with the goal of encouraging vaccination to prevent HPV-related cancers, such as cervical cancer. Aspiras expressed her motivation, "I wake up inspired every day in my goal to contribute to cancer prevention through my work on HPV vaccination."

The ACS Extramural Discovery Science program is a leading funding source for cancer research in the United States, supporting over 700 research grants at more than 200 institutions. Since 1946, ACS has invested over $5 billion in cancer research, aiding 53 researchers who have received Nobel Prizes.