Komen Foundation Research Program Experiences Tremendous Growth
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frontThe Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s lineInternational Newsletter Fall 2000 Komen Foundation Research Program Experiences Tremendous Growth he Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has funded Number of National Research Grants by Year T more than $47 million in breast cancer research since its founding in 1982. This amount does not include the millions of 120 102 dollars in funding provided by Komen Affiliates at a local level 100 to support grants and programs for education, screening and treatment for the medically underserved. Funding for breast 80 cancer research has risen steadily since 1982, when the Foundation awarded its first two research grants. The first 60 59 award, totaling $28,000, was made to the M.D. Anderson 40 40 31 Hospital and Tumor Center to explore the potential role of 24 20 growth suppression factors as therapeutic agents for breast 12 11 9 11 5 7 5 7 7 8 cancer. The second award, totaling $2,000, was made to Baylor 2 3 4 University Medical Center to support its new Breast Cancer 0 1982 1983 1984 1985 19861987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Detection Center. Since these first awards, the Foundation’s research program has increased since 1982, but so has the diversity of research topics expanded dramatically, increasing the number of projects sup- addressed. Overall, about 65 percent of grants supported basic ported, the level of funding provided and the scope of issues research. However, in recent years, clinical, translational and addressed. This increase has been especially dramatic over the other grants, including behavioral research and community- course of the past five years. Since 1995, funding of new grants based studies, have become more common. Diversification of increased from slightly more than $2.8 million in 1995, to nearly the portfolio into additional fields also serves to broaden the $18 million in 1999. At the same time, the number of grants base of investigators. The current research portfolio includes awarded and the average dollar value of grants the following programs: have increased steadily from 1995 to the present. In 1995, • Training grants to doctoral dissertation students and postdoc- the Foundation awarded 24 toral fellows to recruit and retain young scientists in the field inside research grants at an average of breast cancer research; A Letter from Nancy Brinker 2 value of slightly more than • Basic, clinical and translational grants that encompass a Education/Health Updates 3 $116,000 per grant. By 1999 broad number of focus areas including detection, diagnosis, Zeta Tau Alpha Special Initiate 4 Pony Express Round-Up 2000 5 these figures had risen to 102 prognosis, risk and prevention, treatment, tumor cell biology, 2000 Lee National Denim Day® 5 grants averaging nearly and complementary and alternative medicines; Komen Affiliate News 6 $176,000 per grant. (continued on page 13) Volunteer Voices: Linda Kay Peterson 8 Komen Frankfurt Race for the Cure® 8 In 2000, of the 447 grants National Research Grant Funding by Year (in millions) Komen Holiday Cards 9 18.0 17.9 One Voice Against Cancer Rally 11 that were reviewed 136 were Shop for the Cure® 11 rated as being superior for 16.0 American Airlines Donation 11 their scientific merit and poten- 14.0 Rally for a Cure® 12 tial to impact breast cancer. 12.0 Halcyon Enamel Box Benefit 12 This is the largest number of 10.2 Carlisle Collection, Ltd. 12 10.0 grant applications ever to Million Dollar Council 12 8.0 receive a superior rating in 6.4 LIFE Event 2000 13 6.0 Uncle Ben’s 14 the annual grants cycle. 4.0 3.9 Specify for a Cure™ 14 2.8 2.0 Save Lids to Save Lives 14 1.5 Not only have the total dollars 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.05 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5 Ways of Giving 15 0 0.03 2001 Komen Affiliate Conference 16 awarded, the number of awards and the size of grants 1982 1983 1984 1985 19861987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 frontline 2 Power to Care Fuels Power to Cure By Nancy Brinker, Founding Chair of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation hether at a medical Thanks to new technology and physician’s best tool in W conference, in a small changing cultural attitudes assuring quality care. town clinic or in a virtual chat toward cancer, patients of room, one of the underlying the 21st Century are the first The 21st Century patient is issues of every health care generation of truly educated also empowered with an discussion is the question of health care consumers. Back aggressive support network of how to assure quality of care. in the late 1970s, when my patient advocates that simply Quality of care is measured sister, Suzy, was diagnosed didn’t exist 20 years ago. by how each individual with breast cancer, it was a When Suzy was diagnosed in patient is treated. But in this much different world. She 1977, people didn’t talk about era of rapidly changing medi- put her future entirely in the breast cancer. That outdated cine, we must find a way to hands of our family physician attitude kept discussion in the move beyond just anecdotal — a good practitioner but not dark. However, today, we have evidence of quality patient a cancer specialist. Independent a large and growing number of care to a methodology that sources of information on advocacy and support groups Nancy Brinker includes both patient perspec- breast cancer options, for breast cancer and all kinds tive and a comprehensive, designed for patients, were of illnesses. These advocacy But quality, not quantity, is the science-based approach. few and far between. So, groups, like the Komen biggest concern of American while it was Suzy’s care at Foundation, are increasingly consumers. In one recent sur- The American Society of issue, her own lack of knowl- powerful players in efforts not vey, 42 percent said that when Clinical Oncology (ASCO) edge kept her from fully par- just to cure disease, but to choosing a health plan, quality quality of cancer care study, ticipating in most treatment define quality of care. And like is the most important factor. one of the most important and decisions. She gambled on her the people they represent, they Cost came in at a distant second innovative research projects physician’s experience, and it offer the medical community at 18 percent. With numbers the Komen Foundation has was a gamble she lost. significant support as partners like these, it’s easy to under- funded in our nearly 20-year in the effort to both define and stand why politicians are history, will help us do both. Today, you can go to any book provide that quality of care. proposing health care reform By using a unique qualitative store and find shelves of breast plans as health care providers and quantitative approach, cancer books. Turn on the The 21st Century patient scramble to meet rising linking medical records to television and you’ll see a wide understands that quality demands for quality of care. patient interviews, for example, range of health programming. health care is one of the most we will gather information And, of course, there is the politically potent issues on the The empowered patient is a crucial to developing a national Internet, one of our most public policy stage today. In force to be reckoned with as quality cancer care system. valuable resources, where you public opinion surveys, qual- we strive to provide quality of The results will be far more can find information on prac- ity health care regularly ranks care in this new century. The meaningful than previous tically any issue from basic as one of the top five most power to care fuels the power attempts to define quality care. science to clinical trials to important issues with the to cure. As we move into this complementary therapy. American public and cancer new millennium, we must be The most important variable ranks as the second most held responsible personally in this study is the patient. Because of the vast amount of urgent health problem facing and professionally to be active, The new generation of can- information available to them, this country behind AIDS. compassionate stewards of cer survivors is empowered today’s patients want more So, it’s not surprising to learn good health care. like no other in history — from their physicians than that the U.S. spent more than with information, with a sup- just a diagnosis. They want $1.1 trillion on health care in port network and with the acceptance from their doctors 1998, or that national health political means to make a dif- as partners in the process to expenditures are projected to ference. Today’s patients will assure their quality of care. reach $2.2 trillion — over 16 define quality of care on their A patient empowered with percent of GDP — by the own terms. information — both personal year 2008. and clinical — can be a 3 frontline STAR Update FDA Approval he National Cancer Institute recently reported data from n June 2000, the Food and T the first year of the breast cancer Study of Tamoxifen and I Drug Administration (FDA) Raloxifene (STAR) recruitment. STAR will include 22,000 approved the use of tamoxifen postmenopausal women who are at an increased risk of to treat patients with ductal developing breast cancer. The study will determine whether carcinoma in situ (DCIS).