Dr. Kristen Zarfos, medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at The Hospital of Central Connecticut and a leading breast health expert in Connecticut, was among four researchers to receive Community Education and Clinical Research grant funding from the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CBHI) at its annual awards ceremony Oct. 6 at Shuttle Meadow Country Club in Kensington.

Researchers were awarded grant money for Community Education and Clinical Research grants. Dr. Zarfos was awarded a Clinical Research grant to further her study on the rate of breast cancer among young African-American women titled “A Five Year Study Examining the Incidence of Breast Cancer Rates and Stages of Breast Cancer in Young African American Women Using Ultrasound Screening.”

“I’m very grateful to the CBHI for supporting this research effort, which I hope will go a long way in helping bring the necessary prevention resources and treatment for this particular group of women,” said Dr. Zarfos.

Also, Kate Reed of The Jackson Laboratory in Farmington received the CT BHI Jean Cushing Memorial Grant  for “Beyond Genetics: Genomics in Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Research.”

Clinical research grant recipients included Alicia Dugan, Ph.D., of University of Connecticut Health Center for “Improving Breast Cancer Survivors’ Return to Work Experiences,” and Anees B. Chagpar, M.D. of Yale University for “Shave2, A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Routine Cavity Shave Margins vs. Standard Partial Mastectomy.”

“The annual grant awards ceremony is what our mission is truly about,” said Joyce Bray, president of the CT Breast Health Initiative. “To provide funding for much-needed education and research in order to make a difference locally, in the fight against breast cancer.”

CT BHI to date has awarded $3.4 million to fund important breast cancer research and education projects in Connecticut.

Dr. Kristen Zarfos practices at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at The Hospital of Central Connecticut at 183 N. Mountain Rd., New Britain.