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9/20/2024
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Legorreta Cancer Center honors Rep. Ackerman and Sen. Zurier
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 STATE HOUSE — The Legorreta Cancer Center honored Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman and Sen. Samuel D. Zurier for their legislative work to aid cancer research at its annual membership retreat Thursday.
“I am honored to receive this award from the incredible researchers, doctors and scientists who make the Legorreta Cancer Center a global hot-spot for cancer treatment that we are blessed to have in our state,” said Representative Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln). “I am also proud to ensure that these scientists will now have access to every tool available in their fight to develop treatments for cancer patients.”
The two legislators were honored for sponsoring legislation (2024-H 7301B, 2024-S 2394A) that became law earlier in the year to allow patients and medical researchers access to vital national data and research.
“I am humbled by the recognition today from the dedicated team who have developed and refined the innovative, cutting-edge approach to cancer research and treatment practiced here at Legorreta,” said Senator Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence). “This legislation will advance public health in an important way by streamlining the use of medical data by the skilled researchers in Rhode Island working to develop treatments for a variety of medical conditions, especially cancer.”
Modern medical research, particularly cancer research, relies on researchers sharing large data sets of anonymized patient information to compare treatment effectiveness across different population groups. Federal law allows this data sharing, provided the data cannot be traced back to any individual, but Rhode Island law previously prevented this sharing, which locked out Rhode Island researchers from participating in this national data-sharing.
“The Public Service Awardees Representative Ackerman and Senator Zurier who we are honoring today have truly earned the recognition and we in Rhode Island are fortunate to have them here and to celebrate them as wonderful champions for the health of Rhode Islanders. My colleagues and I look forward to seeing the impact of the important new Rhode Island data sharing legislation on the high cancer burden in our state,” said Dr. Wafik El-Deiry, director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University.
The legislation sponsored by Representative Ackerman and Senator Zurier amended Rhode Island law to allow the sharing of anonymized medical research data in the same manner allowed under federal law and most other states. In nearly all cases, patient consent will still be required, but certain research that poses minimal risk would be allowed to proceed under a waiver of consent approved by the internal review board, consistent with federal law.
Rhode Island has unusually high rates for many types of cancer. Researchers like El-Deiry believe access to national data may help them understand why these high rates are occurring, in addition to helping them develop more effective treatments.
A longtime advocate for cancer patients, Representative Ackerman also received the 2023 Public Service Award from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network for her work combating cancer. She has championed many pieces of legislation including a 2018 bill (2018-H 7136) that prohibits minors from using tanning beds, a 2021 bill (2021-H 5432A) to cover preventative colorectal cancer screenings and a 2022 bill (2022-H 7587A) requiring private health insurers to cover biomarker testing.
The Legorreta Cancer Center was established in 2018 at Brown University as a world-class hub for cancer research and innovative cancer treatment. Its membership includes Brown University, the Lifespan Cancer Institute and affiliated hospitals, forming an interdisciplinary program that includes the Warren Alpert Medical School, and the Schools of Public Health and Engineering at Brown.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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