Genetic Breast Cancer More Common In African Americans

The BRCA (BReast CAncer Susceptibility Gene) was highlighted in the media when Angelina Jolie revealed she had a prophylactic double mastectomy after testing positive for this gene. Women with the BRCA gene have a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer than the general population. BRCA is responsible for 5-7% of breast cancers and about 10% of ovarian cancers.

Recently, a study found that African-American women with breast cancer are more likely than women in the general population to have genetic mutations linked to their disease, and some of those mutations extend beyond the common BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. In fact, 1 in 5 black women in this study had a BRCA mutation.

This new data can explain why black women have higher rates of breast cancer at young ages, more aggressive forms of breast cancer, and a worse chance of survival. Studies also reveal that African American women are less likely to be referred for genetic counseling even if they meet the criteria.

To better understand genetic breast cancer and your risk, here are the answers to some of the most asked questions:

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3,200 new registered voters in Ferguson!

[SOURCEOne response to Ferguson unrest from area leaders has been telling people to register to vote, and it appears they have listened.

Ferguson has seen thousands register to vote in the weeks since Michael Brown was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

About 3,200 Ferguson residents have registered with the St. Louis County Board of Elections since Aug. 11, out of a population of about 21,000. Board of Elections director Rita Heard Days says that’s unprecedented in a non-presidential election year.

“It’s a huge number,” Heard Days says. “Unfortunately, the record it says that there [were] so many people in the Ferguson area that were not registered, so, I’m happy to see the number’s increased.”

Appeals court suspends part of new North Carolina voting law

Parts of North Carolina's new voting law, considered one of the toughest in the nation, were set aside for next month's elections because they were likely to disenfranchise black voters, a federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday.

In a 2-1 ruling, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suspended provisions of the Republican-backed law that would have eliminated same-day registration during early voting and voided ballots cast on Nov. 4 outside of a person's assigned precinct.

"Whether the number is 30 or 30,000, surely some North Carolina minority voters will be disproportionately adversely affected in the upcoming election," wrote Judge James Wynn, a former North Carolina Supreme Court justice. "Once the election occurs, there can be no do-over and no redress. The injury to these voters is real and completely irreparable if nothing is done to enjoin this law."

Read more: Appeals court suspends part of new North Carolina voting law

Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder for killing Jordan Davis

Michael Dunn was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder for killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis on Nov. 23, 2012, in a dispute over loud music outside a Gate gas station.

Dunn, 47, faces life in prison without parole when he's sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Dunn showed no emotion when the verdict was read.

The jury that heard Dunn's first trial in February found him guilty of three counts of attempted murder and firing into an occupied vehicle related to the three other teens in the SUV, but a mistrial was declared on the first-degree murder charge when the jury remained deadlocked after 30 hours of deliberations.

Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder for killing Jordan Davis

Hampton University awarded $3.5 million to increase minority STEM majors

Hampton, Va. - The Hampton University First in the World Partnership (HU-FITWP) has been awarded a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The project goal is to increase the access to and affordability of a university education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines (STEM) for underrepresented, and or low-income students.

“After receiving nearly 500 applications from around the country, we’re excited to announce Hampton University will receive a First in the World grant, funded for the first time this year,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Each grantee demonstrated a high-quality, creative and sound approach to expand college access and improve student outcomes. We are confident these projects will have a positive impact on increasing access and completion and help us reach President Obama’s 2020 goal, to once again have the highest share of college graduates in the world.”

“While the number of STEM jobs continues to increase, the number of underrepresented minorities graduating with degrees in these fields remains low,” said Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey. “We believe the Hampton University First in the World Partnership will provide minority students with access to a university STEM education and the tools necessary to be successful and graduate.”

To help facilitate the goals of the HU-FITWP, partnerships will be established with several entities from academia and the private sector. These partners include Northwestern University; the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering; Accenture; Achievable Dream Academies, Newport News, Va. and the From One Hand to Another Foundation, Virginia Beach, Va. These establishments will provide such support as offering internships, employment opportunities, hosting enriching lecture series and exposing the participating students to educational experiences that promote interest in the STEM disciplines.

HU-FITWP will implement innovative strategies and practices that can be effective in improving student enrollment and graduation rates. The target population includes students who have been accepted to HU for the fall 2014 semester and subsequent years and have declared a STEM major. Project activities will include redesign of math courses, student-centric and project-based learning, the creation of a math emporium, a summer bridge program and faculty development.

The project goal is to serve 1,056 students over four years. The anticipated results include an increase in college success/persistence for underrepresented, underprepared and/or low-income STEM students, increased earning potential for students, decreased societal costs and more STEM-qualified underrepresented graduates.

Media Contact: Yuri R. Milligan, University Relations, 757.727.5253, yuri.milligan@hamptonu.edu

Hampton University News is produced and published by the Hampton University Office of University Relations.