Another step towards Mesothelioma Research: Minnesota House approves a grant of US$4.9 million

MINNESOTA, April 12, 2008 - The Minnesota House of Representatives gives permission for US$4.9 million funds to help explore a study of Mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of lung cancer usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation discovered that at least 58 people in Minnesota State have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer as of summer 2007. The average Mesothelioma rate across the country is one in 500,000 and the presence of the cancer hints at other lung-related ailments, for example Asthma, Bronchogenic carcinoma etc.

Passed by a vote of 88-45, the malignant Mesothelioma research project will include a collaborative between scientists at the University’s Duluth and the Twin Cities campuses, and is broken into four different studies. The causes of death in the iron ore miners and the health of current and former miners will be investigated in the first three studies. On the other hand, the fourth study will inspect air particle samples in different cities of northern Minnesota.