Program Schedule

Friday, September 7
Saturday, September 8
Sunday, September 9
At a Glance

Workshop 1 - Breast Cancer 101
Leader: M. Ellen Mahoney, M.D., F.A.C.S.

The workshop will teach the fundamentals of breast cancer basic science and clinical outcomes to symposium attendees who do not have a background in scientific research.

Plenary Poster Discussion
Selected CBCRP investigators will give oral presentations of their posters.

Moderator:
Gordon Parry, Ph.D., Monogram Biosciences and California Breast Cancer Research Program Council

Angiogenesis in the Progression of Premalignant Breast Ductal Proliferations
Philip Carpenter, Ph.D.
University of California, Irvine

Body Size and Premenopausal Breast Cancer Risk in a Multiethnic Population
Esther John, Ph.D.
Northern California Cancer Center

Diabetes and Breast Cancer in Asian-Americans
Anna H. Wu, Ph.D.
University of Southern California

Identifying Metastatic Breast Cells from Peripheral Blood
Kristin Kulp, Ph.D.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Identifying Targeted Treatments for Wound-like Breast Cancers
Howard Chang, M.D, Ph.D.
Stanford University

Workshop 2: Breast Cancer Prevention Strategies
Leader: Marilie Gammon, Ph.D., University of North Carolina

The workshop will explore behaviors and exposures to that may affect the risk of developing breast cancer. The contributions of environmental influences, exercise, diet, smoking and hormones will be discussed.

Speakers:
Peggy Reynolds, Ph.D., Northern California Cancer Center
Anna Wu, Ph.D., University of Southern California
Larry Kushi, Ph.D., Kaiser Permanente

Workshop 3: Special Topics involving Young Women with Breast Cancer
Leader: John Link, M.D., Breastlink Medical Group (additional information), (2007 Symposium Presentation)

The workshop will explore the ways in which breast cause and treatment in pre-menopausal women may differ from post-menopausal women. The workshop will address questions such as: Should treatments, most of which have been tested in post-menopausal women, be specifically designed for younger women? What additional considerations should be taken into account when treating pre-menopausal women?

Speakers:
James R. Waisman, MD, Breastlink Medical Group, Inc
Carey A. Cullinane, MD, MPH, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Heather Himelwright, Cancer Patient Insurance Advocates

Workshop 4: Estrogen, Progesterone and Breast Cancer
Leader: Adrian Lee, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Estrogen has long been correlated with breast cancer, but the lack of understanding of how is underlined by the Women’s Health Study, where estrogen alone has been shown to be safer than estrogen with progesterone. This workshop would review what we know and what we still need to learn about estrogen and breast cancer.

Speakers:
Rowan Chlebowski MD, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, Ph.D., Georgetown University
Eva Lee, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

Workshop 5: Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Leader: Beverly Burns, M.S., L.Ac., Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic and Osher Center for Integrative Medicine

This session will include a discussion of what is being used, how we can go about testing their effectiveness, and guarantee the current and future quality assurance of complementary and alternative medicine.

Plenary Session: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breast Cancer

Speakers:
“Nature, Nurture and Breast Cancer“
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Olopade, M.D., F.A.C.P.
University of Chicago Medical Center
Click here to listen to Dr. Olopade's presentation

“The Social Context of Breast Cancer: Evidence, Challenges and Implications"
David Williams, Ph.D.
Harvard School of Public Health
Click here to listen to Dr. Williams' presentation

CBCRP Listens with Special Research Initiatives

Join members of the SRI Steering Committee and CBCRP Advisory Council in discussing potential research initiatives to answer questions about and find solutions to the environmental causes of breast cancer and the unequal burden of the disease. Participants are invited to share thoughts with and get to know the people who are charting the future of the CBCRP.

Meet the Experts
Attendees will be able to join informal small group discussions with researchers, advocates and policy makers. Topics and Speakers to be announced.

Advocacy for Young Women with Breast Cancer
Anna Cluxton
Young Survival Coalition
Breast Cancer English-limited Support Groups
Carmen Ortiz, Ph.D.
Circulo de Vida
Breast Cancer Research Careers
Dorothy (Dee) Bainton, Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco and Terri Burgess, Ph.D., Amgen, Inc.
CBCRP Directions
Marion Kavanaugh-Lynch, M.D., M.P.H.,
California Breast Cancer Research Program
Cell Death and Senescence
Steve Artandi, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Environment and Breast Cancer
Peggy Reynolds, Ph.D.
Northern California Cancer Center
Modifiable Risk Factors and Breast Cancer
Marilie Gammon, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina
New Drug Development for Treatment
Christopher Benz, M.D.
Buck Institute of Aging Research

Workshop 6: Navigating the CBCRP Application Process
Leader: Laurence Fitzgerald, Ph.D., Manager, CBCRP Core Funding

This workshop session will teach participants how to improve grant application strategies and address the requirements of the CBCRP. It will include an overview of the mission of the grants offered by the CBCRP, how applications are reviewed, and how funding decisions are made by our advisory Council.

Welcome
Mistress of Ceremonies: Holly J. Mitchell, CEO, Crystal Stairs, Inc.
Marion Kavanaugh-Lynch, M.D., M.P.H., Director, California Breast Cancer Research Program

Plenary Session: New Directions in Breast Cancer Treatment
The panel will discuss the implications of the dramatic changes that have been taking place in the arena of breast cancer treatment, particularly the shift from anatomically-based approaches of diagnosis and treatment to genetic-based approaches. They will describe the current status of breast cancer treatment, the revolutionary new directions that the field is taking and the caveats we need to consider as new treatments are developed.

Speakers:
Marisa Weiss, M.D., Director and Founder, Breast Cancer.org
Joe Gray, Ph.D., Life Sciences Division Director, Associate Laboratory Director for Life & Environmental Science
Thea Tlsty, Ph.D., Professor, Pathology, UCSF
Musa Mayer, Author and Advocate for Women with Advance Breast Cancer

Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Researchers will speak about new findings in breast cancer research within the broader context of the disease. Talks will be geared to a general audience and will be prefaced by extensive background about the subject

Breakout Session 1: Services and Support for the Underserved
Moderators:
Sora Park Tanjisiri, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., California State University, Fullerton
Mary Ann Kreshka - Northern Sierra Rural Health Network

Speakers:
A Breast Cancer Educational Program for Samoans
Shiraz Mishra, Ph.D., University of Maryland and Seumaninoa Puaina, M.P.H., National Office of Samoan Affairs
Implementing Decision Support for Diverse, Rural Patients in Medically Underserved Areas
Jeff Belkora, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco, and Sara O’Donnell, Mendocino Cancer Resource Center
Addressing Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality
Rebecca Smith-Bindman, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco

Breakout Session 2: Emerging Topics in Breast Cancer Biology
Moderators:
Klaus Porzig, M.D., South Bay Oncology Hematology and Breast Cancer Research Council
Vernal Branch, The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation

Speakers:
Telomeres and mammary stem cell function
Steve Artandi, Ph.D., Stanford University
The Role of Cellular Environment in Breast Cancer Progression and Metastasis
Kristiina Vuori, M.D, Ph.D., The Burnham Institute for Medical Research
Using Microarrays to Find Novel Breast Cancer Genes
Jonathan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University

Keynote and Awards Luncheon

Awards and Keynote speech
Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D.
Author: Living Downstream: An Ecologists Looks at Cancer and the Environment

Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Researchers will speak about new findings in breast cancer research within
the broader context of the disease. Talks will be geared to a general
audience and will be prefaced by extensive background about the subject

Breakout Session 3: Exploring Breast Cancer Risk
Moderators:
Celia Byrne, Ph.D., Georgetown University
Ana Teresa Garcia, Kohala Family Health Center

Speakers:
Breast Density as a Risk Factor for Cancer
Karla Kerlikowski, M.S., M.D., University of California, San Francisco
Measuring Estrogen Receptor Changes Due to Environmental Exposures
Christopher Benz, M.D., Buck Institute of Aging Research
Protection against Breast Cancer by Prolactin in Milk
Ameae Walker, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

Breakout Session 4: Improving Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
Moderators:
Abenaa Brewster, M.D., MD Anderson Cancer Center
Anna Cluxton, Young Survival Coalition

Speakers:
Markers for Predicting Response to Therapy
Michael Press, M.D., Ph.D., University of Southern California
New Approaches for Detecting and Characterizing Circulating Tumor Cells
Stefanie Jeffrey, M.D., Stanford University
Developing Chemotherapy from Herbs
Michael Campbell, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco

Poster Sessions with Advocate Guides
CBCRP investigators will display their research results on posters. Advocate guides will be available to facilitate discussions between scientists and audience.

Poster Presentations 1
CBCRP investigators will display their research results in the form of posters. Posters will be available for viewing all day, but will be attended by researchers from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Advocate guides will be available during this session to lead groups through the posters and to facilitate discussions between scientists and audience.

Workshop 7: Community Research Collaboration Session

Leader:
Marj Plumb, Dr.P.H., M.N.A., Plumbline Coaching and Consulting, Inc.
Topic: Theories of Community Identity and Group Dynamics
Marj will give a brief overview of the role and meaning of “community” in CBPR and will offer recommendations on how to operationalize the community partner so that all levels of community are involved and engaging their full experience, skill, and knowledge.  Marj will also give a brief overview of group dynamics theories and suggest ways that CRC teams can improve their relationships and communication.

Speakers:
Nancy Anderson, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, UCLA Participatory Research and Community Partnership Core, Center for Vulnerable Populations
Topic: CBPR Theory
Nancy will give a brief overview and historical perspective of CBPR theory. She will discuss the many benefits of CBPR as well as common challenges that must be addressed to ensure equal partnerships. Nancy’s expertise includes qualitative research methods; applications of participatory research methods; and development of culturally proficient research measures and interventions.

Cheryl Koopman, Ph.D., Stanford University
Topic:  Scientific Rigor with Hard to Reach Populations
Cheryl will highlight challenges and successful strategies to achieve scientifically meaningful results in a hard to reach, rural population where recruitment difficulties are an issue.  She will discuss the tension between meeting scientific standards for recruitment and how to realistically recruit participants in a hard to reach geographic area. 

Steve Kaye, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco
Topic:  Collaborative data analysis
Steve will talk about how equal participation from community and research partners in the data analysis stage can pose a challenge in a collaborative partnership.  He will discuss successful tools to increase capacity among community partners to take an equal role in analyzing data. 

Mary Anne Foo, Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
Topic:  Community IRBs
Mary Anne will discuss the benefits of using a community IRB to oversee CRC research projects.  She’ll discuss the process for developing an IRB; including appropriate board members; and how the IRB provides oversight during the CRC project.

Lola Sablan Santos, Guam Communications Network
Topic:  Integration of community
Broad community involvement in the research project is an essential part of CBPR.  Lola will talk about integrating members of the community into research projects so that these studies are truly participatory and beneficial to the community at large.

Current and potential applicants, CBCRP grantees, and all others interested in collaborative research are encouraged to attend this event.  Please contact Natalie Collins at 510-987-0646 or natalie.collins@ucop.edu if you have any questions about the workshop.