Sen. Alfonse D'Amato and June Fessenden-MacDonald, left, director of Cornell's Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in New York State, talk with reporters after the senator's campus briefing on the BCERF program Oct. 31. Robert Barker/University Photography
"A great body of knowledge has been put together here that we can share," U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.) said after an Oct. 31 briefing here from Cornell's Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in New York State (BCERF).
The briefing for the federal lawmaker who encouraged establishment of the program -- which is primarily supported by state, university and private resources but has been granted aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- involved participants from three colleges on the Ithaca campus as well as from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell Medical College.
Established about a year ago, the program aims to improve understanding of the relationship between breast cancer and other hormonally related cancers to environmental risk factors, such as pesticides and diet.
BCERF Chair June Fessenden-MacDonald updated the senator on the research, outreach and education efforts of the program, then described interactions with other programs and discussed funding needs. Suzanne Snedeker, assistant professor and BCERF research leader, reviewed the available scientific knowledge about environmental links to breast cancer -- including environmental mammary carcinogens and other chemicals.
Networking among citizens' groups, education through Cornell Cooperative Extension and development of the state's pesticide-use registry were some of the topics at the briefing. Dr. Michael Osborne, director of the Strang-Cornell Breast Center, discussed dietary risk factors, and Rodney R. Dietert, professor of immunogenetics and director of Cornell's Institute for Comparative and Environmental Toxicology, pointed to "knowledge gaps" about breast cancer, including the lack of "biomarkers" that might measure exposure to environmental factors.
Also providing information from the program were specialists in epidemiology, psychology, water resources, education, pesticide management and other fields.
"We're encouraged by the senator's genuine interest in breast cancer, in our program and in our approach to risk reduction, as well as his support for education," MacDonald said after the meeting.
"I have a lot more learning to do," D'Amato told reporters after the briefing, which took place at the Veterinary Medical Center. "This has been a great opportunity to learn about the resources we have here at Cornell. Now I know how much more has to be done."