From shawnb@gatesfoundation.org Mon Mar 26 07:30:46 2001 Received: from mxu2.u.washington.edu (mxu2.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.9]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.05/8.9.3+UW00.12) with ESMTP id HAA62390 for ; Mon, 26 Mar 2001 07:30:45 -0800 Received: from mail.seattle.main.gatesfoundation.org (mail.gatesfoundation.org [64.64.60.111]) by mxu2.u.washington.edu (8.11.2+UW01.01/8.11.2+UW01.03) with ESMTP id f2QFUiM31529 for ; Mon, 26 Mar 2001 07:30:44 -0800 Received: by mail.gatesfoundation.org with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) id ; Mon, 26 Mar 2001 07:30:22 -0800 Message-ID: <5005D74A88E3D4119545006008F5D111315F3C@mail.gatesfoundation.org> From: Shawn Boeser To: "'rskinner@doh.state.nj.us'" , "'waphgis@u.washington.edu'" Subject: RE: research announcement Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 07:30:20 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C0B609.ABC87198" This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ------_=_NextPart_001_01C0B609.ABC87198 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Yes, I can explain: It was NOT funded by the Gates Foundation! The research was conducted as part of a masters thesis at WWU, while I worked there as a GIS staff person. I now work for the Foundation and the breast cancer research is in no way affliated w/ my current position. For those of you who've asked for a copy of the thesis, I'm working on a ..pdf version but it's not ready. Copies may be requested from the Wilson Library at Western Washington University. Sincerely, Shawn -----Original Message----- From: rskinner@doh.state.nj.us To: waphgis@u.washington.edu Sent: 3/23/01 5:03 AM Subject: RE: research announcement 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 ------_=_NextPart_001_01C0B609.ABC87198 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable RE: research announcement

 Yes, I can explain:  It was NOT funded by = the Gates Foundation!  The research was conducted as part of a = masters thesis at WWU, while I worked there as a GIS staff = person.  I now work for the Foundation and the breast cancer = research is in no way affliated w/ my current position.

For those of you who've asked for a copy of the = thesis, I'm working on a .pdf version but it's not ready.  Copies = may be requested from the Wilson Library at Western Washington = University.

Sincerely,
Shawn


-----Original Message-----
From: rskinner@doh.state.nj.us
To: waphgis@u.washington.edu
Sent: 3/23/01 5:03 AM
Subject: RE: research announcement


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


=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

Think Spatially ... Decide Visually ... Present = Understandably ... Act
Wisely ... Be Satisfied!

Ric Skinner
Research Scientist/GIS Coordinator
NJ Dept. of Health & Senior = Services          &nbs= p;    40 15 31 N
Cancer Epidemiology = Services          &nbs= p;           &nbs= p;  74 40 42 W
P.O. Box 369
Trenton, NJ 08625-0369
Phone:  work:   = 609-588-3500        Fax:  = 609-588-3638
          &nb= sp;     home: = 610-966-4047        email:
rskinner@doh.state.nj.us
          &nb= sp;     cell:      = 610-349-6868
wskinner@fast.net




 

          &nb= sp;         "Health = Maps"

          &nb= sp;         = <healthmaps@home.com        = To:     "WAPHGIS"
<waphgis@u.washington.edu>,     =
          &nb= sp;         = >           &n= bsp;           &n= bsp;   "Shawn Boeser"
<shawnb@gatesfoundation.org>     = ;  
          &nb= sp;         Sent = by:           &nb= sp;        cc:

          &nb= sp;         = WAPHGIS-owner@u.wash        = Subject:     RE:
research = announcement          =   
          &nb= sp;         ington.edu

 

 

          &nb= sp;         03/16/01 08:58 = PM

          &nb= sp;         Please respond = to

          &nb= sp;         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 =3D = 0.05.  Five census block groups remained
significantly
     high at p =3D 0.01.  = This significant difference was seen with only 8
of
     the 10 years of breast = cancer case data.


          &nb= sp;  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






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