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WASHINGTON, DC—Marking World Cancer Day, Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced that $365,766 is being awarded to the University at Albany to fund research on the effects of Vitamin K for breast cancer prevention. This award will be administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“On this World Cancer Day, we extend love to those who have lost someone to this devastating disease, we cheer those who are beating the odds, and we stand with all those among us who are still battling each and every day to be cancer-free,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our extraordinary achievement in COVID vaccine development is an important reminder that investments in science and public health research can and do spread hope and save lives. We owe more than gratitude to the doctors and scientists who are researching new treatments and finding cures. We owe them our vocal support and our commitment that we will continue to invest in their powerful work. I applaud the local scientists and researchers who are working on making these remarkable new discoveries and are helping improve cancer treatments for patients here and around the world. Their efforts bring great promise, and I will continue to push for more federal support to realize that promise and commit to the fight to end cancer once and for all.”

“Although it is well accepted that diet strongly influences the risk of many types of cancer, the specific nutrients that exert anti-cancer actions are unclear. This new five year project will investigate the impact of vitamin K on breast cancer. These studies aim to identify the specific dietary forms of vitamin K that are most beneficial in prevention of breast cancer,” said SUNY Distinguished Professor and project lead JoEllen Welsh, University at Albany Cancer Research Center.

This HHS grant is being administered under the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI). Established under the National Cancer Institute Act of1937, NCI is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training.

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