About the Foundation
The Cancer Research Foundation of America (CRFA) was founded in 1985 by Carolyn Aldigé in memory of her father who died of cancer a year earlier. During the past 16 years, CRFA has contributed over US$50 million to the burgeoning fields of cancer prevention and early detection research and education. As one of the first cancer organizations to focus on progress through prevention, CRFA helped science validate what only a handful of early researchers previously understood: up to 70 percent of certain cancers may be preventable.
Through its research support and a growing nationwide network of individuals, community organizations, professional associations and educational institutions, the Foundation has promoted the science of cancer prevention and early detection and encouraged millions of people to take personal responsibility for protecting themselves against cancer.
Missions and Goals
The mission of the Foundation is the prevention and early detection of cancer through scientific research and education. At the core of this mission are two important goals: (1) to ensure that the best and brightest researchers have the support necessary to establish and/or continue their careers in prevention science and; (2) to reach individuals with information based on current research in cancer prevention and early detection.
Program and Activities
Research Grants and Fellowship Program
CRFA is the leading nonprofit supporter of scientific research aimed at cancer prevention and early detection in the United States, and one of only ten non-federal grants programs with a peer-review process approved by the National Institutes of Health. CRFA funds a variety of basic, translational, clinical and behavioral research-providing US$1.6 million in funding in the last year alone. Visit our Web site at www.preventcancer.org for information regarding our grants and fellowships.
Education and Public Awareness
CRFA is reaching millions of Americans with vital information about cancer prevention and early detection. In the 15 years since its inception, the Foundation's reach has its reach expanded nationwide, through a variety of initiatives:
National colorectal cancer awareness month In March 2000, CRFA founded National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (NCRCAM). With its more than 45 partner organizations, CRFA is helping to raise public awareness, and to identify problems and develop solutions for improving colorectal cancer screening rates.
For year three of the campaign, CRFA will hold a conference in March 2002, conduct community outreach in targeted cities, expand content and interactivity of the Month's Web site—www.preventcancer.org/colorectal— and launch media and public service advertising campaigns.
Congressional families for cancer awareness This bipartisan outreach effort has utilized the unique platform of Congressional families to educate audiences about the importance of cancer prevention, early detection and healthy lifestyle habits.
!Celebremos la vida! Now in its sixth year, this innovative program provides medically underserved Latinas over the age of 40 with breast and cervical cancer education and screening. In addition, the program provides medical followups free of charge for women requiring further diagnosis or treatment.
George Washington University Mammovan Recognizing that Washington, D.C. has one of the highest breast cancer mortality rates in the United States, CRFA has partnered with George Washington University to offer the area's first and only mobile mammography program—the CRFA/GW Mammovan, which provides breast cancer screening free of charge. It has screened more than 12,000 women since 1996.
Award-winning Web site Providing a one-stop shop for credible, comprehensive information about cancer prevention, the Foundation's Web site provides detailed content tailored to men, women and the parents of children about steps they can take to reduce their risk of developing preventable cancers.
In addition to guides for healthy living directed toward men and women of different age ranges, the site offers visitors more detailed information about breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate, skin and testicular cancers.
The Web site's content, which recently received the highest possible rating from Dr. Ian Smith in his Guide to Medical Websites, is frequently updated and enhanced by coverage of cancer-prevention news. Educational material orders and donations can be submitted online, and there are sections dedicated to researchers and patient advocates.
To visit CRFA's site, log on to www.preventcancer.org.
Clinical Trials Summit CRFA collaborates with other cancer organizations to hold the annual Clinical Trials Summit, aimed at increasing participation in cancer trials. The Foundation has played a crucial role in advocating for increased public and physician awareness about clinical trials and in expanding health insurance coverage for this critical research.
Educational materials series CRFA produces and distributes several different types of materials to inform and educate the public about cancer prevention and early detection. CRFA's educational materials provide men, women and children with useful information about ways they can help protect themselves against certain cancers. These materials can be ordered through the CRFA Web site.
Brochures written for men, women and the parents of children provide easy-to-understand information about cancer and describe behaviors that can lower cancer risk.
Fact sheets contain more detailed, cancer-specific information. Reproducible fact sheets are available for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate, skin and testicular cancers, which are all preventable through lifestyle changes or early detection.
Por Su Salud, Por Su Familia, a Spanish-language video, educates about breast and cervical screening.
Dr. Health'nstein's Body Fun, a CD-ROM, guides kids on a path toward cancer prevention by teaching them to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Hope Street Kids Hope Street Kids, a pediatric cancer initiative at CRFA founded by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce and her husband Randy Walker, aims to eliminate childhood cancer through cutting-edge research, advocacy and education. In addition, the program offers support to children with cancer and their families during and after treatment.
For information regarding grant application, visit www.hopestreetkids.org or e-mail cduncan@crfa.org.
CRFA Researchers Make a Difference
Case in point: Honami Naora, Ph.D.
On July 15, 2000, CRFA awarded Dr. Naora, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, a grant for research on ovarian carcinoma biomakers.
At the time of my arrival at Johns Hopkins in 1999, there was no faculty member engaged in basic research on ovarian cancer. I was encouraged from the outset to initiate and undertake this research independently as a post-doctoral fellow. The award from CRFA has enabled me to make substantial progress in achieving my scientific aims...Since obtaining the CRFA award, I have identified five antigens expressed by ovarian carcinomas, including a potentially novel molecule, and have conducted studies indicating that ovarian cancer patients frequently generate serum antibodies to at least two of the antigens, whereas healthy women do not.
Signatures
Dr. Naora, in a June 2001 letter to CRFA
1600 Duke Street, Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22314. Telephone: 703 836-4413; www.preventcancer.org
