UPDATE: The deadline to submit research ideas has been extended to January 31!
On September 21st, the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) launched the Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer. The challenge encourages researchers and advocates to share transformative research ideas with a goal of launching an entirely new direction for breast cancer research – focused on primary prevention.
Anyone passionate about breast cancer research — whether a researcher, physician, patient, advocate, or anyone else — is invited to enter. The Challenge is open to individuals and teams around the world and applications are being accepted in two categories: One for researchers and one for advocates. This is a great opportunity for advocates to develop their ideas and have their voices heard. Grand prizes of $5,000 cash will be awarded to each category; winners will also receive public recognition of their idea and the opportunity to work with CBCRP to bring their idea to fruition. The most promising ideas will frame CBCRP’s future funding strategy and will be further developed in California with $15 million in grant funding from the program.
At BCCRF, finding solutions to breast cancer is important to us. Our focus has always been to eradicate breast cancer through education, research, and advocacy. But despite significant advances in breast cancer treatment, individuals continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer at astounding rates that have remained essentially unchanged over the past three decades. Of the approximately $2 billion spent on breast cancer research each year, less than 10 percent is dedicated to prevention research. The opportunity for discovery is immense, and the time for breakthroughs is now – to help prevent the more than 2 million breast cancers worldwide that are diagnosed each year. BCCRF has had a long history of working with the CBCRP and we are proud of this bold initiative.
The application window will be open from September 21, 2018 to January 31, 2019 and the award will be announced in April 2019. The world needs your help to ensure the best and brightest minds know about this challenge. We encourage you to submit your own idea, share the challenge with friends and colleagues, and post about it on forums and listservs you belong to. Get the full details of the Challenge and learn how you can apply here.
Since 1994, CBCRP has awarded over $280 million in research funds to institutions across California. Learn more about CBCRP