Meena Jaggi PhD, was recently featured in the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) January Spotlight: Cervical Health and Cancer Health Disparities. Dr. Jaggi was recognized for her study with an unconventional therapeutic agent—turmeric (curcumin), an herb common in Indian dishes. Funded by an NCI/CRCHD U01 grant, her research involves using turmeric to inhibit human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in Native American women. Her data have shown the incidence rate of cervical cancer is 230% greater with a higher mortality rate in Native American women than non-Hispanic, white women. The main focus of this study is to increase Native Americans’ acceptance of cervical cancer vaccines. She said the difficulty stemmed from the group’s cultural norms and their preference for “herbal medicines and natural science” to prevent disease. Dr. Jaggi stated, “The use of curcumin can bridge the cultural divide.”
Read more at: http://crchd.cancer.gov/news/spotlights/grantee-spotlights_jaggi.html