Since 2008 the Department of Defense (DoD) began giving grants to researchers trying to find new treatments for mesothelioma and other types of cancer. While the amount of money the DoD has to give out is limited, the grant process is open to researchers and can provide a much needed financial boost for cutting-edge and experimental technologies that might otherwise fall to the wayside.
Such technologies will allow researchers to identify gene markers for earlier diagnosis, study tumor growth and create methods to retard or reverse malignancies. They may also lead to a mesothelioma vaccine, which won’t help current patients but may prevent others from developing this deadly cancer.
While the injection of funds into the research for mesothelioma treatment and cure is welcomed and much needed, one might ask why the Department of Defense is making these monies available and not some other branch of the government. Unfortunately, it’s not out of the goodness of bureaucratic hearts.
The federal office is responsible for addressing diseases and injuries which occur during military service. For decades, military service (especially in the Navy) was one of the leading risk factors for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. In fact, it has been estimated that American Veterans make up 30 percent of all the mesothelioma cases in the United States.
That’s because naval ships, military bases and equipment often contained materials partially comprised of asbestos. The naturally occurring mineral was widely used in insulations, gaskets and seals, and heat resistant coatings.
Since the grants began, the DoD has been responsible for nearly $7 million in research funding—which may sound like a lot but is really just a drop in the bucket.
The DoD grants, available through the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP), are earmarked for programs that aim to improve the life expectancy and quality of life for service members who have mesothelioma and their families.
While mesothelioma research is not the only type of cancer research eligible for funding through this grant process, it may be one of the most important. The new diagnosis rate for mesothelioma patients is expected to crest very soon, which means the medical society will be coping with more patients than ever before.
Sadly, mesothelioma is a deadly disease. There is no cure and the condition is invariably fatal. That’s why the pressure to find some stopgap measure to increase longevity is so great.
The application process ends on November 22, 2011, and the winning agencies and researchers will be announced no later than September 30, 2012. Each award recipient will be eligible for up to three years of funding.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 28th, 2011 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Mesothelioma Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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