Cross-Cultural Cancer Collaboration Funded
U.S., Puerto Rico Join Forces

A new collaborative research program between The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Puerto Rico Cancer Center will promote collaboration on joint research projects targeting cancer in Hispanics, and promote research careers to Hispanic students.

The collaboration will be funded by a 5-year, $15 million award from the National Cancer Institute and the Minority Institution Cancer Center Partnership.

“Research is a vital component in M.D. Anderson’s mission to eliminate cancer throughout the world,” said Margaret L. Kripke, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief academic officer at M.D. Anderson. “It’s important that we take that research out into the world, beyond the center’s walls, to fulfill that mission.”

The first research projects will address the molecular epidemiology of head and neck cancer, breast cancer and acute promelocytic leukemia.

“These activities will enhance cancer research and address the burden of cancer in minority populations, particularly Hispanics,” said Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, M.D., principal investigator and professor of bioimmunotherapy at M.D. Anderson. “Findings from this research may enable us to develop ethnic-specific cancer prevention strategies in addition to allowing minority fellows and graduate students from both institutions the opportunity to be involved in multidisciplinary research.”

Researchers from M.D. Anderson and Puerto Rico will interact in person and through videoconferencing.

“This collaboration allows the Puerto Rico faculty to be on the inside of the latest medical techniques and technology, while M.D. Anderson faculty open new doors to dealing with cancer-related issues in the Hispanic population,” said Harry R. Gibbs, M.D., vice president of institutional diversity at M.D. Anderson.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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