Michael Simon, M.D., M.P.H., professor of Internal Medicine and of Oncology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and leader of the Breast Multidisciplinary Team for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, received the 2015 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation McDevitt Excellence in Research Award for Physicians in the area of clinical research.

Dr. Simon, who also is co-leader of the Population Studies and Disparities Research Program at KCI, was given the award for his investigation into mammography use and the rates of breast cancer mortality in women 75 years and older.

The award provides $10,000 to be used for clinical or health policy research.

"I want to thank the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation for this award and for providing support for future investigations into breast cancer and mammography use," Dr. Simon said. "It is critical that we continue to look into how mammography can save women's lives when it comes to detecting this disease. Mammography continues to be the first line of defense in finding breast cancer early, when it can be more easily treatable."

Dr. Simon and fellow scientists published "Mammography interval and breast cancer mortality in women over the age of 75" in 2014 in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment in 2014.

The study evaluated the relationship between mammography interval and breast cancer mortality among older women with breast cancer. The results suggested longer periods between diagnosis and the last self-reported mammogram were associated with higher rates of mortality due to either breast cancer or any cause of death.

The suggested relationship between mammography interval and breast cancer mortality is particularly relevant for women 75 and older at diagnosis in light of the 2009 U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommendations, which reported a lack of evidence as a support for not performing mammography after the age of 74.

The study represents a collaboration between Dr. Simon and researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York; the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, the University of California in Irvine, the Washington Cancer Institute and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York and the University of Pittsburgh.