7/31/2019 State Senator Supports Opening of Life Sciences Institute

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The Baltimore Times, November 20 - 26, 2009 (www.baltimoretimesonline.com) Positive stories about positive people!Page 12

Komen responds to U.S Preventative Services Task Force recommendationsDallas, TX Susan G. Komen

for the Cure, the worlds leading breast cancer advocacy organiza-tion, has carefully reviewed thedata and new recommendationsfrom the U.S. Preventive Services

Task Force (USPSTF) concerningmammography screening. TheU.S. Preventative Task Force rec-ommended yesterday that women

between the ages of 40 and 49should not have routine breastcancer screenings due to lack of

proven benefits.Komen for the Cure issued

the following statement todayfrom Eric P. Winer, M.D., chief

scientific advisor and chair of Komens Scientific AdvisoryBoard.

Susan G. Komen for theCure wants to eliminate any im-

pediments to regular mammog-raphy screening for women age

40 and older. While there is noquestion that mammograms

save lives for women over 50and women 4049, there isenough uncertainty about theage at which mammographyshould begin and the frequencyof screening that we would notwant to see a change in policy

for screening mammography atthis time. Komens currentscreening guidelines can befound at www.komen.org andwould not be changed withoutserious consideration.

Our real focus, however, should be that one-third of the womenwho qualify for screening under todays guidelines are not beingscreened due to lack of access,education or awareness. These is-sues need focus and attention if we can make progress withscreening in vulnerable popula-tions, we could make more

progress in the fight against breast

cancer.Mammography is not perfect, but is still our best tool for earlydetection and successful treatmentof this disease. New screening ap-

proaches and more individualizedrecommendations for breast can-

cer screening is urgently needed.Susan G. Komen for the Cure iscurrently funding research initia-tives designed to improve screen-ing, and we believe that it isimperative that this research

move forward rapidly. Komenalso provides funding for morethan 1900 education, awarenessand screening programs.

We encourage women to beaware of their breast health, un-derstand their risks, and continueto follow existing recommenda-tions for routine screenings in-cluding mammography beginningat age 40.

Robin Prothro, executive di-rector for the Maryland Affiliateof Susan G. Komen for theCure stated: Amid the confu-sion it is clear early detectionand intervention of breast can-cer provides the optimum out-

comes for longevity and health-fulness. Every woman needs acombination of tools to main-tain good health including part-nering with her physician indetermining appropriate, per-

sonalized screening practices,knowing her body and recog-nizing changes to discuss withher health practitioner, advocat-ing for her own best health andchoosing healthy lifestyle be-haviors. At Komen Marylandwe are funding programs acrossthe state that support these val-ues and funding clinical re-search to further articulate

screening guidelines, improvescreening technology and un-derstand the biology of breastcancer for improved interven-tion. In the meantime, mam-mography is the best tool wehave for early diagnosis.

Robin Prothro, executive director, Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Courtesy photo

State Senator supports opening of Life Sciences Institute By Zaina Adamu

Baltimore City Community College re-cently introduced a rather new field of study at the University of Maryland,Baltimore BioPark. On November 16,2009, the Life Sciences Institute (LSI),

built on the second floor of a six-story building on UMBs downtown campus,officially opened it doors for students in

biotechnology, environmental science,engineering and mathematics fields.

As we continually seek out-of-the- box solutions to [help] people getgrounded in college and move forwardfrom there, we cannot help but notice thetremendous synergy made possible whena community college, our public schoolsystem, a major research university andthe worlds foremost biotechnology in-dustry work together, said BCCC Presi-dent Dr. Carolane Williams.

The 38,000 square foot facility is fullyequipped with laboratories, classroomsand faculty offices. Red and white walls,floors and ceilings complement theschools Maryland flag-based theme.

Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD),

who secured federal funding for job

training anticipated at the site, greetedstudents in a lab class after attending ashort ceremony on LSIs opening. Shethanked them for the input they wouldeventually bring to a changing techno-logically advanced world.

Housing the Life Sciences Institute atthe BioPark is about creating jobs andnew opportunity for students who gohere and residents who live here, saidMikulski. Students will be a floor away

from scientists developing new treat-ments and cures for cancer and dia- betes.

Massachusetts-based Biomere LCC, a biomedical research and drug develop-ment institution, has already requested tointerview 18 LSI students, according toDr. Kathleen Kennedy Norris, BCCC co-ordinator of biotechnology and LSIs on-site director.

LSI has also created a partnership be-tween BCCC, the University of Mary-land, Baltimore and the Vivien T.Thomas Medical Arts Academy, a localBaltimore city high school. The triadcollaboration seeks to steer secondary

education students to careers in biotech-nology, pharmacy, surgery technologyand allied health.

The BCCC, University of Maryland

and Vivien T. Thomas partnership is a breakthrough educational opportunityfor Baltimore city residents, saidWilliams.

The three-pronged partnership has imple-mented a 4+2+2 educational and career

pathway; a strategic approach that allowsstudents to complete four years of highschool, two years at BCCCs LSI and an-other two years at a four-year institution.

With many private corporations suf-

fering in this difficult economy, the Bio-science industry continues to be avaluable source of employment due tofederal funding, stated executive direc-tor of the Governors Workforce Invest-ment Board Eric Seleznow in responseto the 4+2+2 plan.

Lakisha Young, a nursing student atLSI, travels daily from the Eastern Shoreto BioPark simply because UMB is agreat place to get a good education.When asked by Mikulski why she didnot attend Chesapeake College, an insti-tution closer to the Eastern Shore, shesaid: I love it so much. This is such agood school.

Dr. Carolane Williams, BCCC president; Dr. Michelle Harris Bondima, dean of business, health, sciences and mathemat-ics; Dr. Kathleen Kennedy Norris, director of the Life Sciences Institute and coordi-nator of biotechnology; Maryland state

Senator Verna Jones (D-44th); and U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD.) of- ficially open the Life Sciences Institute onthe University of Maryland, Baltimoredowntown campus.

Photo by Marc Summerfield