GIS-H Publicized to Researchers at International Scientific Meetings, Sept. 2001

Ellen Heineman, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has been on the road publicizing to researchers the availability of the newly completed geographic information system (GIS-H) for breast cancer studies on Long Island. The GIS-H is a new, unique tool to investigate potential relationships between environmental exposures and risk for breast cancer. It also can be used to study other types of cancer and other diseases.

In June, Dr. Heineman, who is project officer for the GIS-H, took an exhibit on the GIS-H to the First Congress on Epidemiology conference in Toronto, Canada. The conference brought together more than 1500 members of the American College of Epidemiology, American Public Health Association Epidemiology Section, Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Society for Epidemiologic Research. She spent several days talking with scientists and demonstrating on a laptop computer how a GIS works.

In September, Dr. Heineman gave a presentation on the system at the annual meeting of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. She envisions three types of researchers being interested in the GIS-H: breast cancer researchers; environmental researchers, including but not limited to researchers interested in breast cancer; and statisticians. The GIS-H can be used to develop new or improved research methods, such as statistical techniques or exposure assessment methods, as well as for studies on relationships between environmental exposures and breast cancer and other diseases.

"The interest expressed in the GIS-H at the meetings was encouraging. Some researchers plan to follow up by visiting the Web site, and others expressed interest in applying to use the system," said Dr. Heineman.

There are 80 databases in the system and more to come, including demographic, environmental, health, and environmental data. Only researchers with approved protocols will have access to the GIS-H because of privacy and confidentiality issues. However, there is much descriptive information about the system available to the public on the GIS-H Web site. In addition, a public mapping facility is under development so that interested members of the public can have a glimpse of what is in the system and how it works.

The 2-year development phase of the GIS-H ended in May 2001. Work continues on fine-tuning the system. The contractor, AverStar, Inc., of Vienna, Va., was awarded a contract for 3 option years to continue to collect data, maintain the system, and provide support for the researchers who use it. "Completing the GIS-H in 2 years was an ambitious goal. We made our deadline, but there's still much to do," said Dr. Heineman.