For Release:
  July 24, 2002

Clifton R. Lacy, M.D.
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Laura Otterbourg or Thomas Slater
609-984-7160

TRENTON -"Governor McGreevey has allocated more than $24 million in new funding for new cancer initiatives focusing on investigation, education, research, diagnosis, and treatment to benefit the estimated 300,000 New Jersey residents living with cancer as well as the 42,000 New Jerseyans who will be diagnosed with cancer this year," Health and Senior Services Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. said today.

The $24.25 million includes the following:

$20 million will fund statewide initiatives of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) and $500,000 will support basic science research at the Garden State Cancer Center.

$500,000 will fund a statewide cancer investigation and education program. The cancer investigation component, which is fully funded, will include multidisciplinary, expert rapid response teams which will be deployed to communities suspected of having increased incidence of cancer.

$3.25 million will be used by the Department of Health and Senior Services to expand statewide efforts in cancer education, outreach, surveillance, prevention and control.

In addition, the FY03 budget includes approximately $4.4 million in funding to continue the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program for screening breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers in minority communities; the activities of the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research; the New Jersey State Cancer Registry; the New Jersey Coalition to Promote Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment; and the Breast Cancer Public Awareness Campaign.

"Governor McGreevey's agenda positions New Jersey as a leader in the war against cancer through research, education, surveillance, prevention, and treatment, which will significantly benefit the people of the State of New Jersey," said Commissioner Lacy.