Message from the Chair
The Breast Cancer Research Program has awarded nearly $45 million to hundreds of researchers in California through three cycles of grant funding. As we enter the fourth grant cycle, it is perhaps too early to draw conclusions about the results of research funded in previous cycles. However, it is not too early to assess how well the Program is doing in establishing a framework for actively encouraging and supporting the innovative research that will lead to success in our mission to reduce the human and economic costs of breast cancer in California. It is also not too early for California scientists to critically reevaluate their own research priorities in light of the complex challenges and urgent reality of this uncontrolled epidemic.
Through the productive interaction of researchers, clinicians, and breast cancer advocates, as well as representatives of community groups, companies, and non-profit organizations, the BCRP has refined its grant funding mechanisms to encourage research proposals in priority areas that might otherwise be unable to attract financial support. In some cases, important BCRP-funded research topics have not been a priority for traditional grant sources; in other cases the research proposed was considered too preliminary or high risk for traditional support. One sign of the success of the BCRP approach is the critical grant support provided to some investigators who might otherwise have left, or never entered, the field of breast cancer research. Although we cannot predict the outcome of these scientists’ work, the BCRP has given them an opportunity to contribute to the progress we all seek.
In addition to encouraging innovative and creative research, beginning in Cycle III, the BCRP has taken important steps to encourage greater input into the research process by people who have, in the past, not been considered an important part of the scientific process except in the role of experimental subjects: non-scientist members of the affected community. By establishing the Community-Initiated Research Collaboration (CIRC) award mechanism, the BCRP has guaranteed that scientists have an incentive to listen to the concerns of the people of the State, taking into consideration their unique perspectives when designing research programs to address and investigate those concerns. In addition, members of community and grassroots organizations have access to funding for high quality research proposals submitted with scientific collaborators.
A priority of the BCRP is to establish the necessary ties with both non-profit and commercial organizations to help move the positive results of research into broad, effective use. To partially address this objective, the Translational Research Collaboration (TRC) award mechanism has been established to help insure funding for collaborative research to “translate” scientific advances into health improvements. In some cases, biotechnology firms or pharmaceutical companies will ultimately be in the best position to provide the significant investments required to move early research results into clinical application. However, whether the results of innovative research are patentable and likely to lead to profits or not, the BCRP is committed to helping the people of California gain beneficial access to the fruits of their investment in research.
Yes, I believe the BCRP has made a good start in establishing a framework for progress, but we can all do more. I encourage everyone involved in the search for an end to the breast cancer tragedy to reassess what each of us can do to best contribute to progress. Of far greater value than profits or publications, tenure or vested stock options, will be our collective commitment to, and ultimate success in, making breast cancer remembered as a sad chapter in human history rather than the ongoing experience of far too many people.
