PHYSICIAN TEAM RECEIVES GRANT TO STUDY HEREDITARY COLORECTAL POLYPS AND CANCER

Physician researchers at Saint Barnabas Medical Center have been awarded a $6,000 grant from the Cancer Research UK, a British research organization, for the study of gene mutations associated with an increased risk of colon polyps and cancer among the Ashkenazi Jewish population.

Peter Zauber,M.D., an attending hematologist at Saint Barnabas, is working with the Pathology Department at Saint Barnabas and attending colonoscopists to conduct the research.

Additional financing has been donated by a variety of private foundations, including Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s Harvey E. Nussbaum,M.D., Society. This research will expand current knowledge about the significance of these mutations and their implication for prevention strategies.

Researchers also hope the study will assist with efforts to identify additional mutations.

Participants are being sought for the study. If you are a member of the Ashkenazi Jewish population and are over age 50 and have had a colonoscopy within the last five years, you may be eligible to participate.

If you meet these criteria and are interested in participating in this study, please call (973) 322-5771. All testing is free of charge and strictly confidential.