The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC) has awarded $1.8 million in research grants to researchers at 12 institutions for studies aimed at reducing suffering for seriously ill patients and their family caregivers.
Cynthia Gerhardt, PhD, a researcher in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, was awarded one of the grants to study quality of life in families of children with severe health conditions or illness.
Since 2007, a collaborative effort by the organizations has awarded 51 grants totaling nearly $7 million. These grants, which are in addition to other grants in this area funded by the American Cancer Society, have brought much-needed research dollars to a field that has become an increasingly important part of patient care, but for which federal funding has been inadequate.
“I am delighted to be selected as one of the recipients of this highly competitive grant,” said Gerhardt, also an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Psychology at The Ohio State University. “This funding will enable us to enhance the care of patients and families with severe health conditions or illness.”
The collaborative initiative between ACS and NPCRC is designed to support clinician investigators conducting patient-oriented research in palliative care in hopes of bringing more funding from federal agencies, which have supported some research in palliative care, but for whom it is not a priority area.
Other institutions that received 2010 grant are: University of North Carolina, Children’s Memorial Hospital – Northwestern University, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, Children’s National Medical Center – Washington, D.C., Northwestern University – Feinburg School of Medicine, University of Rochester, University of Pittsburgh, University of California – Los Angeles and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School.
About the Center to Advance Palliative Care
The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) provides health care professionals with the tools, training and technical assistance necessary to start and sustain successful palliative care programs in hospitals and other health care settings. Located at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, CAPC is a national organization dedicated to increasing the availability of quality palliative care services for people facing serious illness.