International Research: Implementation Pilot Projects

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BHGI International Research Program

Wenjin Li, MPH
International Research Manager
Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI)
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Tel: 206-667-6731; Fax: 206-667-4253
E-mail: wli@fhcrc.org

Pilot Research and Demonstration Project (PRP) Progress Report

January 2008

In September 2006, BHGI established an international research program funded through a special award to BHGI by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for the implementation of the BHGI guidelines and launched its first call for PRP. PRPs for implementation will link to the 2006 Guidelines on International Breast Health and Cancer Control to validate and expand upon future iteration of the Guidelines while providing essential data on breast health and cancer control in developing countries.

Pilot projects are intended to address early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and health care systems in geographically and culturally different areas of the world.

From twenty-five Letters of Intent (LOIs) submitted by 17 Investigators (PIs) from 17 developing countries, six projects were selected as semifinalists through internal review by BHGI staff (Round I) and BHGI Executive Committee (Round II).

All 6 Semifinalist PIs were invited to submit a PRP application with a detailed description of proposed project. Each project was assigned to a BHGI Project Advisory Committee (PAC), which included two project advisors (PAs) from the same field to mentor PIs with proposal development. PIs submitted a Draft Application by January 15, 2007. PIs then received first review from their PAs. Revisions of proposal were made accordingly based on PAs comments. PIs then submitted their Revised Application by March 15, 2007.

PAs reviewed the revised application and provided their comments. PIs then finalized their application accordingly. Round III identified finalist projects based on independent review of the Final PRP applications. Final awards were announced on March 25, 2007.

Four PRPs (Romania, Colombia, Indonesia, Uganda) were approved last year to receive funds; an additional project (in Turkey) was approved this year (Table 1).

Table 1 Finalists / PRPs

BHGI Guideline Section	# of finalist Projects	Project Name	Country	Request Funding	Current Status
Early Detection	2	Pilot Introduction of Breast Cancer early Detection Programs in Colombia PI: Raul Murillo, MD	Colombia	$24,958	Funded
		Survey on a pilot mammographic screening program in Bahcesehir, Istanbul, Turkey PI: Vahit Ozmen, MD	Turkey	$25,000	To be Funded
Diagnosis	0	---	---	---
Treatment	1	What do you need to participate in cancer clinical studies as a research center: a checklist-based recommendation Alexandru Eniu, MD	Romania	$24,900	Funded / on hold Ex. Comm. request
Health Care Systems	2	Early breast cancer detection through clinical breast examination training for midwives in rural Jakarta, Indonesia Kardinah, MD	Indonesia	$24,992	Funded
		Establishing a Breast Health Initiative for Uganda William Mbabzi, MD	Uganda	$24,000	Funded / On hold / PI request