Research Collaborations
Our Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health works in partnership with the following programs and organizations: University of Chicago (UC) Breast Cancer SPORE The Center Director, Dr. Funmi Olopade, also leads the UC Breast Cancer SPORE, an NCI-designated Specialized Program of Research Excellence. The SPORE is comprised of an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Chicago that focuses on reducing the suffering from breast cancer through the development of more effective and less harmful ways to prevent, screen, diagnose, and treat breast cancer in all women. There are four primary projects that make up the Breast Cancer SPORE and Dr. Olopade serves as the principal investigator for Project 3, which aims to identify variations in genes that are involved in the metabolism of hormones (e.g., estrogen and androgens) and xenobiotics (e.g., environmental toxins) that increase breast cancer risk.
Center for Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Research
Our Center also works collaboratively with the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Research (CIHDR) at the University of Chicago to evaluate how genetic and environmental factors interact to impact breast cancer risk in women of African descent, who are more likely than White women to be affected by aggressive forms of breast cancer and have occurrences at a younger age. In particular, our lab is interested in determining whether BRCA1 or Estrogen Receptor (ER) promoter hypermethylation is associated with social isolation, as well as clinicopathologic, reproductive, neighborhood, family, and epidemiological risk factors. The ultimate goal of CIHDR is to use our increased understanding of these risk factors to reduce disparities in clinical outcomes of breast cancer in Black women.
Healthy Life for All Foundation
In partnership with the Healthy Life for All Foundation (HLF), our Center has helped to establish the first fully functional immunohistochemistry laboratory at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan to analyze tissue samples from Nigerian patients with breast cancer. Our Center has also worked with HLF to train a team of Nigerian investigators at the College of Medicine to conduct a series of clinical trials in breast cancer using new technologies and drug therapies.