Reducing Death From Breast Cancer

The Susan G. Komen Foundation recently announced that is has awarded more than $100 million in grants this year to a number of researchers whose major research focus is to reduce deaths from breast cancer in the next 10 years. This announcement comes on the heels of a new grant focus for the foundation which recognizes the need to provide longer term funding for major projects (instead of the annual grant process that most organizations operate) as well as a new program that provides funding for new and promising researchers “seeking a transition from training to scientific independence” over three years that also includes a performance based component.

What is particularly interesting about their approach is the overall research litmus test that they now use to fund research: a reduction in mortality in ten years. What this says to me is that this organization is focused on something tangible that we can all see and benefit from over a time frame that is doable.

While we all want to eliminate breast cancer and prevent it – and that is the worthiest of long term goals - it is great to see an organization that seems to understand that what we all want to see is results – and soon. Dr. Eric Winer, in this video suggests that within the next ten years it is reasonable to expect that breast cancer deaths can be reduced to 10,000 per year from 40,000 per year . While 10,000 is still 10,000 too many, it is a dramatic reduction. Dr. Winer also conjectures that breast cancer treatments will become more like the penicillin that we get to treat strep throat today.

I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a research agenda that is focused on something we all can't live without.

What are your thoughts?