Rationale
Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. In 2002, approximately 203,500 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 34,600 women will die from the disease. In addition, 400 men with breast cancer are expected to die this year. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and touches one in every eight women. Over 2.6 million women across the country are currently living with breast cancer, waiting for effective, nontoxic treatments and hoping for a cure. It is the mission of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to fund research that will lead to “a cure in our lifetime.”
The BCRF is dedicated to funding diverse research projects and fostering collaborations and communications among breast cancer investigators. We are confident that a cure for breast cancer will come about from the research being conducted today.
History of the BCRF
The BCRF is the nation's first and largest not-for-profit organization dedicated solely to funding clinical and genetic research on breast cancer. In 1993, Evelyn H. Lauder established the BCRF to address the lack of funding for research in breast cancer and to bring lifesaving discoveries from the laboratory to the bedside. Since inception, the foundation has awarded nearly US$30 million in grants. In October 2001, the BCRF announced US$8.5 million in grants to 50 researchers at renowned cancer centers across the country. The foundation is led by Evelyn H. Lauder, Founder and Chairman; Myra J. Biblowit, President; and Larry Norton, MD, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board.
Grants awarded by the BCRF are made possible with private support from individuals, corporations, and foundations. As a result of generous leadership gifts, corporate partnerships, and special promotions and events throughout the year, the BCRF is able to direct at least 85% of all funds to research.
BCRF Research Grants
Annual grants awarded by the foundation allow scientists to pursue groundbreaking research leading to new treatments, new methods of prevention, and new insights into breast cancer.
Proposals are invited by the Medical Advisory Board each spring, and grants are awarded in October for a 1-year term. Grants may be renewed, depending on continued need and research progress. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
The BCRF grants support outstanding clinical and genetic research that has the potential for rapid clinical application. Ongoing areas of investigation include the genetics of breast cancer, breast cancer vaccines, the effects of hormones on breast cancer, the effects of angiogenesis on tumors, and clinical trials. Over the past 6 months, the foundation has worked closely with the Medical Advisory Board to build a robust grants program, addressing investigative areas not covered by previous BCRF research projects. New areas of funding include breast cancer in women under the age of 35, the psychosocial effects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer genetics in African and African-American women, and new approaches to the relationship of diet and nutrition to breast cancer. Through grants to Cancer and Leukemia Group B, the Eastern Conference Oncology Group, the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (through the Mayo Clinic), and the Southwest Oncology Group, the BCRF is covering major clinical trials consortia across the country. In addition, the foundation is fueling the next generation of breast cancer investigators through its support of American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator and Career Development awards.
BCRF-funded researchers benefit greatly from the foundation's appreciation for projects in all stages of development. The foundation is particularly effective at identifying important new areas of research and providing greatly needed seed money to enable researchers to generate the data necessary to compete successfully for federal funding.
While the research projects funded by the BCRF cover a variety of topics, its grantees recognize the interrelationships among projects, and they welcome the opportunity to interact during the annual BCRF Awards Luncheon and Symposium held in October. Collectively, they comprise a “mini institute” of researchers whose introductions and interactions at the BCRF events often lead to collaborative projects and further discussions.
A Cure in Our Lifetime
In the 8 years since its inception, the BCRF has celebrated countless small victories in the field of breast cancer research. Discoveries are being made and questions about the disease are being answered. Collaborations among scientists are consolidating results and generating information about breast cancer, its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
The BCRF has a single-purpose mission and is organized according to a belief that the fastest route to eliminating breast cancer is to direct as much funding as possible to research, identifying the most promising clinical and genetic investigations and supporting them generously.
Grantees at BCRF Awards Luncheon, October 4, 2001.
