'Looking Upstream' Event Focuses on Environmental Links to Breast Cancer

CINCINNATI—The eighth annual "Looking Upstream for Environmental Links to Breast Cancer" public education forum will feature leading breast cancer researcher Julia Brody, PhD, on Saturday March 17, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at UC's Reading campus, 2189 E. Galbraith Road.

Brody is executive director of Silent Spring Instituteand adjunct assistant professor at Brown University's Alpert Medical School. She is a leader in research on breast cancer and the environment and focuses on everyday exposures to hormone disrupters. 

Frank Biro, MD, director of adolescent medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine, will discuss the "Growing Up Female" study. The research efforts investigate how environmental and genetic factors affect the onset of puberty in young girls.

Susan Pinney, PhD, an epidemiologist and professor of environmental health at the UC College of Medicine, will give a presentation entitled: "Environmental Exposures: Stories our Bodies Tell." In this presentation, Pinney will use data from Cincinnati-based environmental chemical exposure research studies to show that some people in the general population have higher levels of some chemicals in their bodies—unknown to them. She will discuss how implementing research strategies can sometimes identify the environmental source. 

Lauren Niemes, executive director of the Nutrition Council of Greater Cincinnati, will also give a presentation entitled: "What's on Your Plate?" discussing how certain foods high in antioxidants can help counter the effect of some environmental exposures. 

"This is an opportunity to hear from both local and national experts on the impact of environmental exposures on personal health and, potentially, on later risk for breast cancer," says Biro. "We look forward to sharing this important information with the community."

The forum is presented by the Cincinnati Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP) and the Breast Cancer Registry of Greater Cincinnati. The Cincinnati BCERP is one of three national programs funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. It is a joint effort between researchers at the UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's as well as local breast cancer advocates and their community, support and service organizations. 

Registration is $20 and includes a buffet breakfast and educational materials. Nursing continuing education credits are available. Parking is free. Register by March 10 by calling Veronica Ratliff at 513-636-8307. 

On Friday, March 16, members of the community are also invited to attend "Fuel Your Fire: Explore Research Tools to Investigate Environmental Health Issues." The event gives attendees the opportunity to hear about Silent Spring Institute's work to identify and break the link between environmental chemicals and women's health. The free public event is presented by the UC Department of Environmental Health's Community Outreach and Engagement Core and Green Umbrella. The event will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati. To register, call Sarah Elam at 513-558-2149.