2017 Grantees
Research Grantees
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research
Dr. Ritu Aneja, Adjunct Professor, Center for Inflammation, Immunity and Infection, Department of Biology
Georgia State University
Dr. Aneja’s research has been dedicated to resolving cancer-related racial disparity. This study will focus on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form of breast cancer, more often seen in African American women. Her lab will seek to advance knowledge about the molecular pathways that link Androgen Receptor negativity to aggressive disease in African Americans with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and illuminate new treatment strategies. At present, there are no targeted therapies approved for the treatment of patients with TNBC, and new treatment approaches are critically needed.
Investigating Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clusters in Southwest Georgia
Dr. Dora Il’yasova, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health
Georgia State University
Dr. Il’yasova’s study will focus on Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), another very aggressive form of breast cancer. IBC develops rapidly, yet cannot be detected via mammography. This study in Southwest Georgia will focus on the development of a novel protocol for rapid case assessment, working with area cancer centers and health providers. The ultimate aim is to identify the environmental risk factors that may expose women in these areas to higher IBC rates.
Multi-stage Drug Delivery System to Overcome Breast Cancer Drug Resistance
Dr. Susan Thomas, Assistant Professor, Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Mechanical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Thomas’s research involves testing a proposed two-stage delivery and release system in hopes that it will dramatically improve the effect of drugs in eliminating HER2 positive breast tumors. HER2 is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. To better reach the cancer cells the drug is intended to eliminate, Dr. Thomas will test the hypothesis that combining nanocarrier-enhanced intratumoral drug accumulation with the high diffusivities of released small-molecule drugs will enhance the drug’s therapeutic effects after intravenous administration.
Constructing a Molecular Trojan Horse to Infiltrate Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Dr. Mandi Murph, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences
University of Georgia
Dr. Murph’s research focuses on a precise, safe and effective alternative to treating extremely aggressive triple negative breast cancer. Because cancer cells are incessantly consuming resources from their environment to grow, Dr. Murph intends to create a container using the cancer cell’s own materials and those of neighboring cells, and load it with natural, deadly cargo. Like a Trojan horse, once inside, it is hoped that the cancer cells’ replicating machinery will be hijacked, causing it to stop growing and ultimately die.
Program Grantees
Athens Nurses Clinic
Healthy Northeast Georgia Women
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Dawson, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Gwinnett, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, Walton, and Washington counties
The Healthy Northeast Georgia Women program provides clinical exams, screening and diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies on-site and in the community for homeless, uninsured and low-income women over the age of 40 in the Northeast Georgia area.
Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation
Patient Financial Assistance Program
Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, and Walton counties
Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) Patient Financial Assistance program helps relieve financial stress for patients facing an immediate financial need as a direct or indirect result of their breast cancer treatment. Money is applied towards living expenses such as mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, groceries, transportation, medications, medical equipment, and similar expenses.
The Cancer Foundation
Financial Assistance Program
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, and Wilkes counties
The Financial Assistance Program provides emergency monetary assistance to individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment who are experiencing an immediate financial crisis because they cannot pay for basic life needs such as rent, utilities, medication, or transportation.
Cancer Support Community Atlanta
Living Fully with Breast Cancer
Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties
The Living Fully with Breast Cancer program helps people affected by breast cancer to enhance their health and well-being through participation in professional programs of emotional support, education, and hope. All services are offered free of charge to people with breast cancer and their loved ones. Programs include professionally led support groups, education forums hosted by leaders in the medical community, gentle exercise and stress reduction classes, supported yoga, and nutrition demonstrations.
Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Inc.
Community Breast Health Initiative
Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties
The Center for Black Women’s Wellness Inc. (CBWW) seeks to improve the health and well-being of black women and their families and the economic health of communities. Through the Breast Health Initiative the CBWW will identify women who are in need of breast health education and services. The program will provide clinical breast exams, screening mammography services, and diagnostic services to uninsured, under insured, unemployed or low income women. A Breast Health Advocate will ensure linkage to care and treatment for women who are diagnosed with breast cancer through the program.
Clarkston Community Health Center
CCHC Breast Health Initiative
Dekalb and Fulton counties
The Breast Health Initiative program offers assistance to refugees and recent immigrants whom are no longer eligible for Medicaid or cannot otherwise qualify for or afford healthcare insurance. The program offers breast exams, breast health education, and mammography referrals to qualifying clients. Funds from It’s The Journey support screening mammograms.
East Georgia Cancer Coalition
Have you been screened?- Mammography
Banks, Barrow, Burke, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Emanuel, Franklin, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Hart, Jackson, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lincoln, Madison, McDuffie, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Walton, Warren, Washington and Wilkes counties
The Have you been screened?- Mammography program intends to increase community access to mammogram services by addressing structural barriers and reducing out of pocket costs. The program incorporates the Community Guide’s evidence based task force recommendations by reducing the time and/or distance between the service delivery settings and target populations, offering services during non-traditional hours and offering services in alternative, nonclinical settings. The mammography program addresses the most common external barriers to mammography: costs of screening, transportation and parking.
Emory University – Department of Human Genetics
Bridging the Grady GAP – Genetic Access Program for Individuals at Risk for Hereditary Breast Cancer
Clayton, Dekalb, Douglas, Fulton, Henry, and Newton counties
Bridging the Grady GAP provides access to genetic counseling and genetic testing for individuals who have a personal or family history suggestive of a hereditary risk for breast cancer and are uninsured, under-insured or covered by Medicaid or Medicare. Program participants are identified and seen at Grady Hospital.
Good News Clinics – Gainesville
Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Program
Hall county
The Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Program provides free screening mammograms to uninsured Hall County residents who have no other resources to receive them. Those who have positive screening results will be referred through Good News Clinics’ Health Access Program for free follow-up care including free diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds provided by Northeast Georgia Medical Center to GNC patients. If needed, patients will also receive referral for continued treatment with a Health Access Program specialty physician.
The Good Samaritan Health Center, Inc.
Women’s Health Screenings
Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Decatur, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, Pike, Polk, and Rockdale counties
The Women’s Health Screening Program at The Good Samaritan Health Center provides women clinical breast exams, screening mammograms, and diagnostic testing to uninsured, low- income women in Atlanta and the surrounding areas. This program targets women who are most in need of access to healthcare services and most at risk because of income and/or race. It’s the Journey grant allows Good Samaritan to provide clinical breast exams, screening mammograms and diagnostic services for many of these uninsured, underinsured, or even homeless women who do not otherwise have access to these tests in a primary healthcare home environment.
Gwinnett Hospital System Foundation
Mammograms for Uninsured
Barrow, Dekalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, and Henry counties
Gwinnett Medical Center wants to insure that every woman receives an annual mammogram regardless of her ability to pay. This project will provide funding for breast cancer screenings and evaluations of breast abnormalities for under-insured people in Gwinnett County by providing mammograms to patients without insurance who present themselves as an identified need. Follow up is provided by affiliated physicians at Gwinnett Medical Center.
Hadassah Greater Atlanta /Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
Check It Out! Program
Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties
Check It Out! is a breast health and cancer awareness program for female high school students as well as women in colleges, women’s groups, and the workplace. The program strives to educate young women (especially those in pre-mammography age groups) about breast cancer, healthy lifestyle choices, and the importance of knowing their own bodies. The program emphasizes the message that early detection saves lives.
The Health Initiative, Inc.
Breast Cancer Prevention through Screenings & Education
Chatham, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Lowndes, and Richmond counties
This project heightens breast health awareness and prevention efforts among individuals through targeted breast health messaging and increased access to mammograms and clinical breast exams. The Health Initiative will provide breast education messaging that is culturally specific to sub-populations of women within the LGBT community throughout Georgia. Those education efforts will directly link to free screening opportunities with culturally competent providers.
The Lighthouse Lymphedema Network
Compression for the Cause
Banks, Barrow, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bryan, Burke, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Elbert, Emanuel, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Glascock, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Lincoln, Lumpkin, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Muscogee, Newton, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Taliaferro, Walton, Warren, and White counties
This program will provide financial assistance for the Bandages and Garment Fund. This fund provides compression garments or bandages for lymphedema management for breast cancer patients.
Macon Volunteer Clinic
Breast Health Education and Screening Program
Bibb county
The Breast Health Education and Screening Program provides uninsured residents of Bibb County with annual breast exams, breast self-exam education, and access to mammograms. If the mammogram results necessitate it, the Macon Volunteer Clinic coordinates additional breast health services for the patient, including diagnostic mammograms, spot compression views, ultrasounds, surgical consults, and biopsies.
Meadows Regional Medical Center
MRMC Breast Health Program
Montgomery, Tattnall, and Toombs counties
The MRMC Breast Health Program provides community education programs for breast health awareness and mammogram screening for vulnerable women of the region. Services will target low income (200% or below federal poverty level) and uninsured residents of Southeast Georgia. Patients identified with a need for diagnostic services will also be enrolled in a care coordination program for ongoing care and follow-up as needed. Funding from It’s The Journey supports mammograms.
Mercy Care Foundation
Breast & Cervical Cancer Program
Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties
This program serves high-risk minority women in the metropolitan Atlanta area. The program is a full continuum of care offering accessible health care, education, and support. Program activities include educational sessions, clinical breast exams, mammography, diagnostic services, patient navigation, and ongoing follow-up and support services. The goal is to increase early detection by providing a continuum of care that addresses the cultural, linguistic and economic barriers to care often faced by low-income minority women. Funding from It’s The Journey goes to support diagnostic education, mammograms, biopsies, and ultrasounds.
Northside Hospital – Inside Metro Atlanta
Breast Diagnostics Services for Underserved Women – In Metro Atlanta
Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale counties
This program will provide no cost screening mammography and diagnostic services to medically underserved, uninsured women inside Metro-Atlanta who do not qualify for Medicaid, but can’t afford out of pocket healthcare costs. Funding from It’s The Journey supports screening and diagnostic mammograms.
Northside Hospital – Outside Metro Atlanta
Breast Diagnostics Services for Underserved Women – Outside Metro Atlanta
Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Pickens, and Spalding counties.
This program will provide no cost screening mammography and diagnostic services to medically underserved, uninsured women outside Metro-Atlanta who do not qualify for Medicaid, but can’t afford out of pocket healthcare costs. Funding from It’s The Journey supports screening and diagnostic mammograms.
Phoebe Foundation, Inc.
Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Training for Physical Therapists
Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Crisp, Dougherty, Early, Irwin, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Sumpter, Terrell, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties
It’s The Journey is supporting training for Physical Therapists for breast cancer rehabilitation.
Piedmont Athens Regional Foundation
Coordinated Community Breast Health
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, and Wilkes counties
Through awareness and educational activities, the community is provided specific recommendations on the role of annual screenings and self-exams in the early detection of breast cancer. Through the Breast Health Center, screening mammography is provided depending on age and when an abnormality is found, advanced diagnostics are available with same day results. Funding from It’s The Journey supports mammograms.
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
Fighting Breast Cancer through Genetics Program
Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale counties
The Fighting Breast Cancer through Genetics Program at Piedmont Healthcare provides cutting edge genetic testing services to medically underserved individuals. Genetic counseling and testing services are provided for patients at risk for hereditary breast cancer who are medically underserved or uninsured and live in the metropolitan Atlanta region.
Piedmont Newnan Hospital
Breast Health Screening and Diagnostic Services for Uninsured Women
Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Heard, Meriwether, Spalding, and Troup counties
The Breast Health Screening and Diagnostic Services for Uninsured Women program provides screening, diagnostic breast imaging, and biopsy free of charge for patients from Coweta County and the surrounding metropolitan Atlanta counties who otherwise would not be able to afford these life-saving procedures.
St. Joseph’s/Candler
Mission Possible: Bridging the Mammography Gap
Appling, Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Jasper, Liberty, McIntosh, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, and Treutlen counties
This program will provide breast health services to the underserved at no cost to patients meeting established financial criteria. Services which will close the gap for the working poor include: screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and image-guided breast biopsies.
TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
Specialized Rehabilitation for Patients with Breast Cancer
Barrow, Bibb, Chatham, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Henry, Jackson, Lumpkin, Newton, Pickens, Rockdale, Stephens, Union, Walton, and White counties.
TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation improves quality of life for breast cancer patients by providing, promoting and advocating specialized rehabilitation. Programs and services include physical therapy, exercise, massage therapy, counseling, nutritional counseling and patient education.
WellStar Foundation – Legacy Facilities
Mammography Voucher Program – Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer
Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding counties
The Mammography Voucher Program provides vouchers for free screening mammograms and diagnostic services to women and men who lack access or are unable to afford healthcare within the legacy WellStar service area.
WellStar Foundation – Fulton County
Mammography Voucher Program – Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer
Fulton county
The Mammography Voucher Program provides vouchers for free screening mammograms and diagnostic services to women and men who lack access to or are unable to afford healthcare within the new WellStar service area.
