From rskinner@doh.state.nj.us Fri Mar 23 05:04:09 2001 Received: from mxu3.u.washington.edu (mxu3.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.7]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.05/8.9.3+UW00.12) with ESMTP id FAA40062 for ; Fri, 23 Mar 2001 05:04:08 -0800 From: rskinner@doh.state.nj.us Received: from dhssqb01.doh.state.nj.us (dhssqb01.doh.state.nj.us [205.148.40.4]) by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.11.2+UW01.01/8.11.2+UW01.03) with ESMTP id f2ND40b14071 for ; Fri, 23 Mar 2001 05:04:08 -0800 Subject: RE: research announcement To: waphgis@u.washington.edu X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 5.0.1 July 16, 1999 Message-ID: Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 08:03:09 -0500 X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on dhssqb01/NJDHSS(Release 5.0.4a |July 24, 2000) at 03/23/2001 08:03:21 AM MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I inquired to the Bill & Melinda Gate foundation funding of the project by Shawn Boeser (see below) that was recently posted on the WAPHGIS listserve and I received the folloing interesting reply. Perhaps someone can explain what's going: Thank you for contacting the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. I do not find a record of this grant in our database. General information about grant inquiries can be found on our web site, http://www.gatesfoundation.org, under "Grant Eligibility" on the main page. The Foundation's current focus includes: The Library program, a $200 million commitment to provide computer hardware, software, and training to U.S. and Canadian public libraries in low-income communities. Advancing student learning and achievement by investing in the professional development of teachers, principals and superintendents and the development of high-achievement model schools and districts. Organizational and project funding for community service based programs in the Pacific Northwest. Global Health programs focusing on vaccine development, disease elimination and eradication, and reproductive and child health. The Gates Millennium Scholarships Program, www.gmsp.org and the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, www.gates.scholarships.cam.ac. We wish you the best in your endeavors and hope this information will be helpful to you. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ==================================================== Think Spatially ... Decide Visually ... Present Understandably ... Act Wisely ... Be Satisfied! Ric Skinner Research Scientist/GIS Coordinator NJ Dept. of Health & Senior Services 40 15 31 N Cancer Epidemiology Services 74 40 42 W P.O. Box 369 Trenton, NJ 08625-0369 Phone: work: 609-588-3500 Fax: 609-588-3638 home: 610-966-4047 email: rskinner@doh.state.nj.us cell: 610-349-6868 wskinner@fast.net "Health Maps" , > "Shawn Boeser" Sent by: cc: WAPHGIS-owner@u.wash Subject: RE: research announcement ington.edu 03/16/01 08:58 PM Please respond to waphgis Boeser SM. Breast Cancer Incidence and Environmental Risks in Whatcom County, Washington. Master's Thesis: Huxley College of Environmental Studies, Western Washington University, April 2000. Abstract The use of powerful computer mapping and spatial analysis techniques, known as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has aided researchers in establishing clues about disease incidence. In 1999-2000, this preliminary study using GIS to map breast cancer incidence and environmental risks revealed significant results in Whatcom County, Washington. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for 1344 cases from 1980 to 1997. From 1990 to 1997 six census block groups exhibited significantly higher SIRs (averaging 200% above average) at p = 0.05. Five census block groups remained significantly high at p = 0.01. This significant difference was seen with only 8 of the 10 years of breast cancer case data. In addition to examining incidence, geographic patterns of established risk factors as well as known and suspected polluting exposures were assessed. Established demographic risk factors (urban residence, high socioeconomic status, and higher education) were mapped and compared relative to sites of excessive breast cancer incidence. Toxic sites examined included Superfund sites, hazardous waste sites, and areas with agricultural and other toxic exposures for the past 50 years. The six areas where the risk of breast cancer for the past decade were highest had little association with established demographic risk factors. All six areas had documented contamination that included PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, dioxin and other toxic chemicals and metals. SHAWN BOESER GIS Analyst/Researcher Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation P.O. Box 23350 Seattle, WA 98102 Tel: (206) 709-3569 Fax: (206) 709-3180 www.gatesfoundation.org .