Elisa Bandera, MD, PhD, an epidemiologist at CINJ and an associate professor of epidemiology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the UMDNJ-School of Public Health, is a leading researcher in diet and cancer prevention and utilizes the SEER database frequently in her work. "The NJSCR is an outstanding resource for epidemiologists in and outside of New Jersey. Having this collaboration between CINJ and NJDHSS will facilitate more population-based multi-disciplinary studies in New Jersey, with great potential to improve our understanding of factors influencing cancer development and survival," she said.

Through the development of the partnership between CINJ and NJDHSS, the NJSCR has been able to maintain the federal funding that supports it and apply for additional funding from new sources. Leaders from both NJDHSS and CINJ credit CINJ's NCI-Comprehensive Cancer Center designation as being a key component to achieving the necessary support in bringing the initiative to fruition.

One of the key funding agencies that served as a springboard in the development of this partnership is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which in 2007 awarded CINJ $12 million to help grow its population science program and other initiatives. CINJ has leveraged this support not only to attract key faculty members and funding opportunities surrounding the NJSCR, but also has utilized these enhanced resources to build collaborations throughout the state and nation.

CINJ Director, Robert S. DiPaola, MD, associate dean for oncology programs at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, says the new partnership surrounding the NJSCR in particular will lead to job creation and the strengthening of New Jersey's economy. "Given the demand for the quality data resources available in our joint Center of Excellence, we expect that we will enjoy continued requests for collaboration from within and beyond our institutions and state," said Dr. DiPaola. "This will position New Jersey as a valuable cancer research resource not only to our state and its citizens, but also to the nation and beyond. CINJ is proud to undertake such a responsibility."

One such resource expected to come from the initiative is the development of a new Epidemiology Services Core at CINJ. The effort, to be led by Graff and other CINJ faculty, will serve CINJ members in the areas of population-based investigations and cancer etiology, treatment and control.

SOURCE The Cancer Institute of New Jersey