Cervical Cancer Initiative at UK Receives Gift

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 3, 2010) — The Cervical Cancer Free Kentucky Initiative (CCFKI), a Kentucky initiative that developed out of the work of the Rural Cancer Prevention Center at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health has received an unrestricted gift from GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. Kentucky's gift amount for the fiscal year 2011 is $650,000. An restricted gift means that CCFKI has full control over how the funds will be used.

Multiple states are participating in cervical cancer free projects led by North Carolina which will be the multi-state coordinating council for all state-wide projects. In addition to Kentucky and North Carolina, other participants include Alabama, California and Indiana.

The Cervical Cancer-Free Kentucky Initiative will coordinate existing state and local resources and collaborate with partners to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in the Commonwealth.

"This initiative will make a real difference in helping our Commonwealth reach the shared goal to be without cervical cancer," said Dr. Baretta R. Casey, principal investigator for the CCFKYI.

Cervical cancer is a notable public health concern for Kentucky, particularly the rural and Appalachian regions of the state. As reported by the Kentucky Cancer Registry, from 2002-2006, the state incidence rate for cervical cancer was 9.44 per 100,000 (ranked 5th highest in the U.S.); rural counties’ incidence rate was 10.40 and the Appalachian region’s rate was 11.09.

The broad, long-term goal of Cervical Cancer-Free Kentucky Initiative is to impact cervical cancer disparities in Kentucky through prevention of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, timely screening and diagnosis, access to follow-up care and treatment, and changes in cervical cancer-related health policy.

The Cervical Cancer-Free Kentucky Initiative is made possible by the unrestricted gift from GlaxoSmithKline.