NEW: NIH Awards RI Hospital $5.8 Million to Support Cancer Research Program

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NEW: NIH Awards RI Hospital $5.8 Million to Support Cancer Research Program

Five-year grant will help fund research activities at the Center for Cancer Research Development
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Rhode Island Hospital $5.8 million to support the hospital’s cancer research program.

This grant supports the third phase of an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). Originally established at Rhode Island Hospital in 2002, the Center for Cancer Research Development (CCRD) has supported research conducted by a talented pool of cancer researchers. The center previously earned two NIH grants of $8,617,015 and $10,853,821, which supported the first two phases of activity, respectively. With this additional support in funding, the CCRD will launch several pilot programs and extend the sustainability of its programs beyond Phase III. The funding will be spread over five years.

“Rhode Island Hospital hosts three separate National Institutes of Health COBREs -- for stem cell biology, skeletal health repair, and for cancer discoveries,” said Timothy J. Babineau, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Lifespan. “Our biomedical research enterprise advances patient care through groundbreaking discoveries while simultaneously creating skilled job opportunities, new products and advanced technologies. It’s an undeniable economic driver with numerous benefits to the city of Providence and to the state.”

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“At the Rhode Island Hospital Center for Cancer Research Development, we created an environment to foster career development among promising investigators by equipping them with what’s needed for progressive research,” said Margaret M. Van Bree, MHA, DrPH, president of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “Informed by knowledge drawn from clinical trials, researchers design and implement novel diagnostic and treatment protocols benefiting patients. Their ultimate goal is to reduce suffering and death caused by cancer.”

“Thanks in part to researchers here in Rhode Island, major advancements are being made in the fight against cancer. The folks here at the center do outstanding work and these federal funds will help them upgrade their biomedical infrastructure and continue cutting-edge research that is unlocking cures and improving treatment options,” said U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who has helped direct over $47 million in fiscal year 2015 NIH funding to Rhode Island. “I commend the Rhode Island Hospital Center for Cancer Research Development and their partners. This is another example of how making needed investments in scientific research and development today can lead to the breakthroughs of tomorrow.”

"Congratulations to Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, and the center’s team on this new round of funding,” said U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. “This grant will support cancer research, foster innovation and economic growth, and train the next generation of researchers to confront tomorrow’s medical challenges. The whole congressional delegation fights hard for these funds, and we're all very gratified when Rhode Island wins big grants like this one."

“Cancer affects us all; we all know someone who has fought this insidious disease, and too many Rhode Islanders have faced this battle personally,” said Congressman Jim Langevin. “Research is essential to putting our neighbors and loved ones on the winning side of the fight against cancer, and this $6 million COBRE grant will improve outcomes and further enhance the outstanding quality of care at Rhode Island Hospital.”

“The COBRE Center for Cancer Research and Development at Rhode Island Hospital is an important institution that has helped develop new cures and treatments for cancer and created medical research jobs here in Providence’s Knowledge District,” said Congressman David Cicilline. “I am proud to announce with my colleagues in the federal delegation this $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health that will ensure this important work continues and help keep Rhode Island Hospital on the cutting-edge of cancer research for years to come. It is critical that we continue working to bring back federal funds that expand economic opportunities for all Rhode Islanders.”

By supporting biomedical research in regions where NIH funding is low, the IDeA program increases the competitiveness of investigators by supporting faculty development and research infrastructure enhancement at institutions in 23 states and Puerto Rico. NIGMS supports basic research and training nationwide, increasing our understanding of biological processes and laying the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention


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