CDC Awards Programmatic Funding to Support Breast Cancer Genomics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced three state health departments that will be funded for a three year cooperative agreement, “Enhancing Breast Cancer Genomic Practices through Education, Surveillance, and Policy” as part of a broader effort by CDC to support the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, section 10413 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

About the FOA

This funding will catalyze the adoption of evidence-based recommendations for breast cancer genomic tests and other related interventions into health practice in a manner that maximizes health benefits and minimizes harm to individuals and populations. Funding will enhance state health department’s capacities to promote applications of evidence-based breast cancer genomics best practices through education, surveillance, and policy and thus, address the needs of young women at high risk for developing breast cancer. Funded applicants will develop or enhance activities related to promotion of breast cancer genomics (e.g., increase appropriate BRCA 1/2 counseling and testing, increase insurance coverage of BRCA 1/2 and related clinical interventions for appropriate women, develop educational programs to increase the public’s and health care provider’s knowledge about family history, risk assessment, and the appropriateness of BRCA 1/2 counseling and testing).

About the Awardees

• CDC received 8 applications from state health departments.
• With available resources, CDC was able to fund the following states (in alphabetical order):
• Georgia
• Michigan
• Oregon
• Funding will allow Michigan and Oregon to continue their work in breast cancer genomics (previously supported by CDC) and for the first time support state initiatives in Georgia.
• For year 1, each grant award is $300,000. Total funding for 3 years is up to $2.7 million.
• The remaining applications were ranked as “Approved, But Unfunded” (ABU)