ASU awarded $1.2 million grant

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas awarded a $1.12 million grant to ASU to fund a project that will bring breast cancer detection and prevention services to women in the Concho Valley.

Dr. Linda Ross, executive director of the Center for Community Wellness, Engagement and Development and Dr. Leslie Mayrand, dean of the College of Health and Human Services, are heading up the program, Access to Breast Care for West Texas – Concho Valley.

The program was started through the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health at Texas Tech University, Ross said.

"They recognized that there was a problem with women in the area not receiving mammograms and coming in with late stages of breast cancer," Ross said.

Texas Tech obtained a grant from CPRIT to kick start a program that would help resolve the problem, Ross said.

"They developed a program to provide mammograms to underinsured and uninsured women," Ross said. "They were awarded this grant last year, and we were able to take that grant and expand upon it here in the Concho Valley. It will eventually reach all the women in Public Health District 9."

The program caters to uninsured women, those who do not have access to health insurance, or underinsured women and offers free mammograms and other services, Ross said.

"Not only will the grant pay for mammograms, but if there is a suspicious lump, it will continue to pay for diagnostic testing until treatment," Ross said.

Mayrand said the grant will pay transportation costs for women to obtain services, and will also fund a public education campaign available to all women in the Concho Valley.

"We will be holding educational events all across the Concho Valley for women on the importance of mammograms," Ross said.

Mayrand said there are many benefits to expanding upon the existing grant, instead of applying for a new one.

"You don't have to re-spend money to do the same things," Mayrand said. "I think that is one of the reasons we received the grant. [CPRIT] recognized the cost effectiveness of expanding on the program... They have a wonderful website and call center that we will be able to take advantage of."

Mayrand said it took a considerable amount of coordination between all four hospitals to  build a foundation for the program.

"As, you write the grant, you have to detail exactly what the plan is," Mayrand said. "We had a lot of meetings… and that was the most difficult part, especially when you have a number of partners. Although it takes a lot of time...it is the most effective way to [operate] with a project this big."

Ross said working with the four hospitals was relatively easy and was a great experience overall.

"All of them really stepped up to the plate," Ross said. "They were all glad to work with us on this, which was a huge advantage for us."

Mayrand said she feels the amount of cooperation between all five entities gave the program an edge when it came to obtaining the grant.

"We demonstrated a great deal of cooperation with the hospitals, and that really helped [get the money we needed] to fund the project," Mayrand said.