The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Commits $59.5 Million to Fund Cancer Research Worldwide

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) today announced a $59.5 million commitment to breast cancer research for 2017-2018. It's largest investment to date, the grants will support the work of more than 275 scientists at leading academic and medical institutions in 15 countries. BCRF funded research spans the entire spectrum of cancer - from the most basic biology of a cancer cell to developing innovative new treatments to improving quality of life.

"BCRF was founded for the sole purpose of advancing breast cancer research. Today, we stand as the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world," said Myra Biblowit, President & CEO of BCRF. "We've seen the impact of research--mortality rates have decreased by 38 percent over the last 25 years. However, more than 40,000 women and men continue to die from the disease each year. BCRF remains dedicated to research until the numbers of deaths from breast cancer is zero. Research is the only path towards achieving that goal."

Key Areas of Research for 2017-2018
BCRF funds a diverse array of research topics and areas of focus, including the following major impact areas:

Metastatic Breast Cancer Research

    --  This year, nearly one-third of BCRF's grants (more than $18 million) are
        focused on metastatic (Stage IV) breast cancer. Studies include
        understanding the biology of why and how cancer cells spread, the
        development of new treatments for advanced disease, and correlative
        studies to discover biomarkers that can predict which breast cancers are
        more likely to spread.
    --  BCRF has committed $31 million to date for the Evelyn H. Lauder
        Founder's Fund, a multi-year international program dedicated to research
        in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The flagship programs of the
        Founder's Fund Initiative are the AURORA programs in the US and Europe.
        These programs represent the first large-scale global efforts to unravel
        the biology of MBC.

Math Against Cancer

In today's world of rapidly advancing technologies, a cross-disciplinary approach is the only way to address the most persistent challenges in cancer: collaborating across disciplines will accelerate discoveries that can change the landscape of breast cancer.

    --  BCRF is advancing precision medicine by supporting efforts that
        integrate novel mathematical methods with cancer biology to understand
        the evolution of cancer, treatment response, and an individual's risk of
        treatment-related side effects. These efforts will provide new tools to
        predict new treatment approaches that can be tested in the laboratory
        and ultimately in the clinic.
    --  In partnership with the Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis (JKTG) Foundation
        for Health and Policy, BCRF is supporting three multi-institutional
        collaborations to provide new insights into tumor growth and metastasis
        and the mechanisms of drug resistance. The projects pair computational
        scientists with biologists to conduct studies s that will advance our
        understanding of cancer biology and ultimately improve clinical
        outcomes.

New Treatments

    --  BCRF is committing nearly $20 million to research aimed at improving
        treatments for breast cancer patients. These studies address critical
        gaps in the clinical management of breast cancer including why a
        treatment fails some patients and not others, why tumors become
        resistant to drugs, and discovering biomarkers that can match patients
        to the right therapy.
    --  BCRF launched the Drug Research Collaborative with an initial $15
        million investment aimed at bridging the gap between academic research
        and patient access to new therapies will accelerate the discovery and
        clinical testing of new treatments and novel combinations for breast
        cancer.
    --  BCRF is investing over $14 million in research focused on
        immunotherapies. These studies are aimed at improving response to
        immunotherapy in breast cancer with novel combinations, clinical trials
        and vaccine development and hold promise for patients with triple
        negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of the disease.

Inherited Susceptibility and Tumor Genomics

    --  Family history, genetics and race/ ethnicity all contribute to an
        individual's risk of breast cancer. Tumor genetic factors that are not
        inherited also influence the outcomes in breast cancer. BCRF is
        investing over $15 million in research in inherited susceptibility and
        tumor genomics. Studies include understanding how mutations in the
        breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 modify risk; identifying new breast
        cancer susceptibility genes and predicting the risk they have on
        developing breast cancer; and understanding how intratumor
        heterogeneity--the biologically distinct profiles of cells that make up
        the tumor--influence tumor behavior, response to treatment, recurrence
        and metastasis.

Early Diagnosis and Prevention

    --  BCRF is committing more than $12 million to early detection and
        prevention research. These projects include studies that are shedding
        new light on the underlying relationship between obesity and breast
        cancer risk; designing novel lifestyle intervention strategies;
        discovering biomarkers in blood and tissue that can identify persons at
        risk; characterizing premalignant changes in the breast and tissue
        architecture that promote cancer development; testing novel alternative
        prevention approaches in high risk women; understanding the early
        influence of diet and weight on future breast cancer risk; testing new
        chemo preventive agents and improving adherence to standard
        chemoprevention therapies, such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.

Health Disparities

    --  BCRF is committed to addressing the diverse factors affecting
        disparities in breast cancer outcomes. BCRF has committed nearly $3
        million in studies to understand the differences in genetic and
        biological risk factors across populations; improve access to genetic
        testing in high-risk minority groups; as well as access to screening and
        diagnosis, quality care and affordable medications to underserved
        populations and patients in low resources settings.

Breast Cancer as a Growing Global Threat

    --  As cancer's toll grows around the world, it is in pace to replace
        infectious diseases as the single greatest threat to global health and
        development. In fact, the World Health Organization predicts that more
        people will die from cancer by 2030 than from AIDS, malaria and
        tuberculosis combined. BCRF's global presence is reflected in its
        support of 30 international researchers in 14 countries totaling more
        than $5 million in grants outside the US.

Learn more about these projects by tuning in to "Investigating Breast Cancer," the official podcast of BCRF. Available on iTunes and bcrfcure.org/podcasts.

CONTACT
Meghan Finn, Chief Communications & Engagement Officer | O: 646.497.2609 | C: 914.275.1981 | mfinn@bcrfcure.org
Sadia Zapp, Director of Communications | O: 646.497.2639 | C: 347.624.7926 | szapp@bcrfcure.org
Deanna Clevesy, Manager, Communications | O: 646.497.2696 | dclevesy@bcrfcure.org

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SOURCE Breast Cancer Research Foundation