Earlier this year, Prof Cox and Dr Nary Jane Sneyd, of the Hugh Adam Cancer Epidemiology Unit, reported their findings from research into the school milk drinking habits of 562 people diagnosed with bowel cancer aged between 30 and 69, and compared them with 571 people of similar age without the disease.
The study suggested the risk of bowel cancer was 30% lower in people who drank school milk daily and the reduction in risk was greatest for those who drank 1200 or more of the half-pint (300ml) bottles of milk in their school years.
Interest in this was sparked by earlier research showing that the incidence of the cancer was lower in those born from about 1938 to 1953. (The school milk programme involved many schools over the 30 years to 1967.)
Prof Cox said two further studies were being planned to see if the original findings were supported ," funding permitting".
Two applications were being assessed for funding and the outcome might be known in late May or June.
Possible dairy industry interest was being explored.
While $700,000, over two or three years, was a lot of money, it was a relatively small amount considering the cost of treating and caring for patients with colorectal cancer and the burden of disease on their families.
Some studies have suggested calcium intake may reduce bowel cancer risk in adults but few studies of the effect of consumption in childhood have been done.
• Otago and Southland have the highest incidence of colorectal cancer in the world.
