The Georgia Department of Public Health is part of a group launching a pilot program focusing on people at high risk for developing breast cancer.

Experts hope to develop referral networks, streamline screening, and potentially reduce insurance costs for breast cancer testing.

Georgia is one of three states to receive the $900,000 award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Kimberly Redding is with the state department of public health:

"I think the fact that we were really looking to bring these resources to under-served populations and to women who might not otherwise be made aware of what the risk factors were for inheriting this gene mutation and may not have access to resources for further screening and counseling was a unique aspect of our proposal."

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE), Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute, The Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia State University's Georgia Health Policy Center comprise the coalition implementing the program.

Phase one of the pilot will start in Macon, Savannah and Dekalb County.

Tags: Georgia State University, health, breast cancer, Emory, research, Department of Public Health, Morehouse School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Georgia CORE