Researchers with the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and John A. Burns School of Medicine have received more than $3 million in grants for malignant mesothelioma research, the university said Wednesday in a news release.

Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer of the lining that covers the lungs and abdomen.

More than 30 percent of mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos during military service, primarily in the Navy. Several million veterans were exposed to asbestos during their service, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports.

“The UH Cancer Center is the only National Caner Institute-designated center in Hawaiʻi or the Pacific and access to these critical funds will help them continue the groundbreaking work the center does every day. As someone battling cancer myself, I have a strong appreciation for the dedicated researchers that are working towards a cure,” said U.S. Rep. Mark Takai. “With the increased funding provided to National Institutes of Health last year by Congress, more of these grants will become available and I look forward to working with UH to make sure they see their fair share.”

The United Stated Department of Defense awarded 45 grants for cancer research and career development, three of which went to UH:

>> Cancer Center researchers Haining Yang and Michele Carbone received $1.9 million to look for biological signs to predict the risk of developing mesothelioma that could lead to early detection.

>> Yang and Carbone received another $600,000 to look for DNA variations that could increase the risk of developing the disease.

>> Medical school researcher Pietro Bertino received $550,000 to work on a vaccine against mesothelioma.