Yale Bulletin and Calendar

August 23-30, 1999

Volume 28, Number 1

Awards support research and outreach
programs at Yale Cancer Center

Two recent awards from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will continue the work of the Yale Cancer Center (YCC) in the areas of research and community outreach and education.

The YCC will further its investigations into the molecular changes associated with cancer with a five-year, $6.5 million NCI grant. Dr. Daniel DiMaio, professor of genetics and director of YCC's molecular virology research program, will lead the project.

Titled "Program on the Molecular Basis of Viral and Cellular Transformation," the research project will focus on the use of molecular approach to explore how viral gene products and cellular mutagenesis contribute to oncogenic transformation, the process by which a normal cell is converted to a tumor cell.

The other project leaders, all members of the YCC, are Dr. Peter Glazer, associate professor of therapeutic radiology and of genetics; Nancy Maizels, associate professor of genetics and molecular biophysics and biochemistry; Dr. I. George Miller, the John F. Enders Professor and section chief of pediatrics (infectious diseases) and professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry.

The NCI also recently renewed YCC's contract to operate its Cancer Information Service (CIS), a program to give the American public the latest, most accurate information on cancer.

Established in 1976, the CIS operates a toll-free telephone service (1-800-4-CANCER), where specially trained staff provide information about cancer prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and research in easy-to-understand terms. Staff take calls in both English and Spanish; there is also a special line for calls from the hearing impaired (1-800-332-8615). CIS also assists organizations in developing education efforts to reach people who do not have easy access to cancer information and services, and studies ways to promote healthy behaviors and communicate cancer information effectively.

The CIS office at Yale, which serves all of New England, was one of the first established in the nation; today there are 14. Each year, CIS at Yale receives more than 20,000 calls.

"The CIS is a critical resource for the American public," says Dr. Vincent T. DeVita, director of the YCC, "and we feel privileged to be able to continue to provide this service. We are pleased to be working in partnership with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to meet the needs of the entire New England region."

Linda Mowad, CIS project director for the regional office, adds: "We are also excited about several recent improvements to our program. We now have the latest telephone technology so that callers can speak to a cancer information specialist without experiencing a wait or a busy signal. In addition, we have a new feature where callers can hear recorded information about cancer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Study finds undercurrent of anger in U.S. workplaces

Translating Shakespeare into sign language was a lesson in the art of communication

'Alternative' therapies not favored over conventional medical care, says survey

Robert Blocker to continue as dean of the School of Music

Mary E. Miller is new master of Saybrook College

Array of appointments announced at Graduate School

Emeritus Faculty

In the News

Women under 50 at greater risk of dying from heart attacks than are men

The world was a classroom for Yale students this summer

Center's creative use of computers aids medical research

Exhibits at Beinecke Library celebrate the pioneering spirit

Stanford-Yale forum will boost junior faculty's skills in legal scholarship

Psychopharmocologist Dr. Robert Byck dies; discovered properties of MSG, THC

Awards support research and outreach programs at Yale Cancer Center

Program on Nonprofit Organizations names new leaders

Hydrogeology expert joins School of Forestry

Yale Rep's coming season features broad spectrum of plays

Correction: Fourth scholar-athlete identified

Campus Notes