The Breast Cancer Research Council
About the Council
The overall objectives, strategies and priorities of CBCRP are set by the Breast Cancer Research Council, which actively participates in overseeing the program and making final recommendations on the research projects to be funded. In each Grant Cycle, CBCRP awards grants based on the Council's recommendations, which are based on peer reviewers' evaluations, program priorities and available funds.
The Council currently consists of 16 members: five representatives of breast cancer survivor/advocacy groups; five scientists/clinicians; two members from non-profit health organizations, one practicing breast cancer medical specialist, two members from private industry, and one ex officio member from the DHS Breast Cancer Early Detection Program.
Council members are appointed by the University, drawn from nominations submitted by Council and the community.
Members
SHELLEY R. ADLER
Scientist/Clinician
(July 1, 1996 — June 30, 1999)
Shelley Adler is a medical anthropologist specializing in sociocultural gerontology at the University of California, San Francisco. Some of her current research includes “Women's Breast Cancer Treatment Choices by Cohort and Ethnicity;” “Older Women's Interactions with Their Physicians Regarding Breast Cancer;” and “Alternative Breast Cancer Treatments.” She is a member of the American Anthropological Association, the Society for Medical Anthropology and the American Society on Aging.
LISA BAILEY
Non-Profit Health Organization
(February 15, 1994 — June 30, 1997)
Lisa Bailey, M.D. is a breast cancer surgeon on the staff of Summit Medical Center, Alta Bates Medical Center, and The Surgery Center, and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Davis. She is president-elect of the American Cancer Society, California Division and past president of the Alameda County Unit. A nationally recognized leader in surgical oncology, she has served as an advisor for the Institute of Medicine and for Donna Shalala's National Breast Cancer Summit (1993), and locally serves on the Alta Bates Medical Center Comprehensive Breast Center Professional Advisory Committee, the Northern California Cancer Center Advisory Board and Breast Cancer Committee, and co-founded the Bay Area Tumor Institute tumor board.
CHRIS BENZ
Scientist/Clinitian
(February 15, 1994 — June 30, 1996)
Christopher Benz, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, where his research on breast cancer includes the role of hormones in breast cancer, gene activation, and potential targets for new therapies. He is also a Member of the Joint UCSF-UCB Graduate Group in Bioengineering.
SUSAN CLAYMON
Advocate
(February 15, 1994 — June 30, 1996)
Susan Claymon is a ten-year survivor of breast cancer, and has been a breast cancer activist since 1990. She has been referred to as one of the founding mothers of the breast cancer advocacy movement. She is a co-founder and past president of Breast Cancer Action, a San Francisco advocacy group. Susan was the first chair of the Breast Cancer Research Council. She is also a communications manager for Shaklee, Corporation.
WILLIAM T. COMER
(February 15, 1994 - June 30, 1996)
Private Industry
William T. Comer, Ph.D. has been President and CEO of SIBIA, Inc., a neuropharmaceutical company in La Jolla, since April, 1991. SIBIA was founded by The Salk Institute in 1981, and is now focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutic products for neurodegenerative diseases and other disorders of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and stroke. Prior to joining SIBIA, Dr. Comer was Senior Vice President of Strategic Management and President of Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Licensing at Bristol-Myers Squibb where he had three decades of successful drug discovery, development of several major therapeutic products to worldwide registrations, licensing of many products and technologies and the formation of important strategic alliances. In addition to serving on the UCSD Cancer Center Foundation, the UCSD Department of Chemistry's Industrial Advisory Committee and the National Research Council's Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, Washington, D.C., Dr. Comer is a Board member of two San Diego biotechnology companies, Cytel Corporation and Haughten Pharmaceuticals. He is also a member of the Governor's Council on Biotechnology and serves on the Board of BIOCOM, San Diego's regional association for the biocommerce industry.
ARLYNE DRAPER
Advocate
(July 1, 1996 — June 30, 1999)
Breast cancer has been a part of Arlyne and her family's lives for the past 20 years. Arlyne has survived two breast cancers and, for the past five years, has dedicated herself to fighting this disease by promoting education, increasing awareness, and encouraging others to speak up and demand attention. She is founder of the Women's Cancer Task Force (WCTF), a grassroots organization and a chapter of Y-ME, which works for changes in breast cancer education, research, diagnosis and treatment. She also co-founded the California Breast Cancer Organizations (CABCO) where she serves as president and representative to the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) working board. She has participated in numerous breast cancer conferences and committees at the state and federal levels.
JACQUOLYN DUERR
Ex-officio alternate member
(February 15, 1994 — ongoing)
Jacquolyn Duerr, M.P.H. is Chief of the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program in the Cancer Control Branch of the California Department of Health Services. In this position, she is responsible for the design and development of a statewide program for the expansion of breast cancer screening services to low-income, underserved, older women. She has overseen the creation of local partnerships comprised of providers and consumers to create a network for case management, and to monitor and improve the quality of these services. She has extensive training and experience in community health education and outreach.
ROBERT ERWIN
Industry
(July 1, 1996 — June 30, 1999)
Mr. Erwin is a founder and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Biosource Technologies, Inc., founded in 1987. As a co-founder of Sungene Technologies Corporation, he served as Vice President of Research and Product Development from 1981 through 1986. Mr. Erwin has served on the Biotechnology Industry Advisory Board for Iowa State University and the Executive Committee of the California Tissue Culture Association. He is currently a Director of the Independent Institute, the Marti Nelson Cancer Research Foundation and Large Scale Biology Corporation. Mr. Erwin's biotechnology experience includes research in molecular biology at Abbott Laboratories and at the University of Alabama Medical School. He received his M.S. degree in genetics from Louisiana State University.
J. PATRICK FITCH
Scientist/Clinician
(May 1, 1995 — June 30, 1997)
J. Patrick Fitch, Ph.D. is Director of the Center for Health Care Technologies in the Biology and Biotechnology Research Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He currently oversees the development and management of all health care-related projects at LLNL, which include over 40 projects in diagnostics, treatment and information systems. His own research includes the development of new surgical tools and catheter-based systems. These projects involve close collaboration with clinicians, industry and researchers in the breast cancer field, as well as other fields.
PATRICIA A. GANZ
Scientist/Clinitian
(February 15, 1994 — June 30, 1996)
Patricia Ganz, M.D. is a medical oncologist who has spent the past decade doing systematic research on the health-related quality of life impact of breast cancer and its treatment. She holds a Professorship in the UCLA Schools of Medicine and Public Health, and is the Director of the Division of Prevention and Control Research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research has been sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, California Division, and the Department of Defense. Through her research, she has contributed to our understanding of how women adjust to the diagnosis of breast cancer, including its effects on their physical, emotional, social, and sexual wellbeing. She has developed a predictive model for the early identification of women at risk for psychosocial distress in the year after breast cancer, and has described the clinical characteristics of these women. She recently received funding from the National Cancer Institute to examine in greater detail the impact of breast cancer on sexuality and intimate relationships in survivors of this disease. This latter study will be unique in its effort to focus on African American women with breast cancer, who have been largely neglected in prior research. In recognition of her special expertise in the fields of both breast cancer and quality of life assessment, Dr. Ganz was asked to join the Steering Committee of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project's Breast Cancer Prevention Trial. In addition, she designed and leads the quality of life component of this important prevention study in which 16,000 healthy women are being randomly assigned to treatment with tamoxifen or placebo.
MARCO GOTTARDIS
Industry
(March 3, 1996 — June 30, 1999)
Marco M. Gottardis Ph.D. is a Research Investigator in the Dept. of Endocrine Research at LIGAND Pharmaceuticals in San Diego, California. His research group is currently developing new classes of breast cancer hormonal therapies (which include novel retinoid and anti-hormonal agents) that have greater target selectivity and less side-effects than current days. Dr. Gottardis has studied the molecular and biological mechanisms of resistance to breast cancer hormone therapies for the last 15 years. He has trained in several of the preeminent breast cancer research laboratories. He serves on several standing and ad hoc research grant study sections for the American Cancer Society, U.S. Army Breast Cancer Research Program and National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences.
LIANA LIANOV
Ex-officio member
(February 15, 1994 — ongoing)
Liana Lianov, M.D., M.P.H. is currently the Chief of the Cancer Detection Section at the California Department of Health Services. Over the past five years, she has developed and implemented the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, which is federally funded, and the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program, which is funded by 50% of the tobacco tax raised by the Breast Cancer Act. These programs offer screening and diagnostic and educational services to low income women. Dr. Lianov is a physician board certified in both Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine and Public Health and was trained at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona and Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She received her Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990 and her medical degree from the University of Nevada in 1985.
DEBORAH JOHNSON
Scientist/Clinician
(February 15, 1994 — June 30, 1996)
Deborah Johnson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on the way in which viral proteins activate cell genes to give rise to the transformation of cells from normal to cancerous. She brings to the Council a strong personal interest in breast cancer, and extensive professional experience in grant review and funding.
JOHN LINK
Medical Specialist
(February 15, 1994 — Nov. 30, 1996)
John Link, M.D., an oncologist. and the medical director of Memorial Breast Center, has been on staff at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center since 1977. Considered an international expert in the treatment of breast cancer, Dr. Link is a principal investigator of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) and several other research projects. He has published numerous articles and given many presentations on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Link was instrumental in obtaining permission to conduct the first investigative trial using the anti-progesterone, RU-486 and remains involved in many research studies centering around breast cancer. Dr. Link continues to be dedicated to the advancement of breast cancer research and the treatment of breast disease. He is committed to the goal that each woman entering Memorial Breast Center be cared for with compassion and excellence.
SUSAN M. LOVE
Scientist/Clinician
(July 1, 1996 — June 30, 1999)
Susan M. Love, M.D. is an author, teacher, surgeon, researcher and activist. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Surgery at UCLA and former Director of the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center. She is one of the co-founders of the National Breast Coalition and serves on their Board of Directors. She also serves as a co-chair of the Biological Resources Task Force of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer.
She is the author of many books and articles including an Atlas of Techniques in Breast Surgery and Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book (second edition June 1995), which has been termed the ‘bible’ for women with breast cancer. Her next book, Dr. Susan Loves's Hormone Book: Making Informed Choices about Menopause, will be published by Random House in February of 1997.
CAROL L. MACLEOD
Scientist/Clinician
(July 1, 1995 — June 30, 1998)
Carol MacLeod, Ph.D. is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, Associate Director of the UCSD Cancer Center, she serves as Leader of the Cancer Genetics Program, and she Co-directs a National Institutes of Health Cancer Training Grant. She has served on National Institutes of Health Scientific Review Panels for Cancer Centers and Research Grants. She is currently a member of a Scientific Advisory Panel for the American Cancer Society. She holds research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Susan Komen Foundation, the Clayton Foundation and the California Research Coordinating Committee to support her active research program. Her research focuses on the regulation of gene expression in tumor cells and the induction of tumor cell differentiation. Using both cell and molecular biology, her laboratory examines the mechanisms regulating gene expression. Several unique genes identified in a search for tumor related genes are now being assessed for their possible role in tumor formation and dissemination using gene targeting and transgenic approaches.
ANDREA MARTIN
Advocate
(February 15, 1994 — June 30, 1997)
Andrea Martin is a breast cancer survivor and advocate who, in 1993, founded The Breast Cancer Fund, a national nonprofit organization that raises awareness and funding for innovative research, education, patient support and advocacy projects. Ms. Martin participated in the drafting and passage of the Breast Cancer Act of 1993 and was appointed to the BCRC. She also serves on the Advisory Council to the Department of Health Services, which oversees the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program.
MARIA PELLEGRINI
Scientist/Clinician
(July 1, 1996 - June 30, 1999)
Maria Pellegrini, Ph.D., is currently Dean of Research in the College of Letters Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Dr. Pellegrini's research interests have included studies of the structure-function relationships within proteins and the regulation of gene expression. She is the recipient of an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship and a Dreyfus Foundation Teacher-Scholar Award and has received several research and training grants from the National Institutes of Health. Since 1977, Dr. Pellegrini has been Professor of Biological Sciences at USC. Dr. Pellegrini has served on a number of National Institutes of Health grant review panels, including a current assignment on the NIH Training Grant Study Section. She is a breast cancer survivor and a co-founder of Reprogen, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing new products relating to women's reproductive health.
CAROL PULSKAMP
Advocate
(July 1, 1995 — June 30, 1998)
Carol Pulskamp is a life-long activist and (since 1990) breast cancer survivor/advocate. She is a former educator of the deaf, and a staunch and outspoken advocate for health care reform, rights of disabled persons, etc. She is a founding member and the executive director of the Northern California Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, an association member of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
BEVERLY RHINE
Advocate
(July 1, 1996 — June 30, 1999)
Beverly Rhine is a breast cancer survivor and vice president of the Women of Color Breast Cancer Survivors Support Project. She is dedicated to providing support, counseling and psycho-social assistance to African American women faced with breast cancer. Beverly is also a member of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Advisory Council.
SUSAN M. SHINAGAWA
Advocate
(February 15, 1994 — June 30, 1996)
Susan M. Shinagawa, the current chair of the Breast Cancer Research Council, is a breast cancer survivor who celebrated her fourth year of “thrivership” in October of last year. Over the past four years, Susan has been an active advocate for cancer survivors, and a strong proponent of breast health outreach and education. Her primary focus has been in outreach education and healthcare services access/models of care for minority and low-income populations, with a particular personal interest in Asian Pacific Islander (API) populations. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Asian Women's Health Organization, and serves as the API cancer survivor representative member of the Intercultural Cancer Council. Ms. Shinagawa is also a member of the California Department of Health Services Breast and Cervical Cancer Advisory Council, an American Cancer Society-certified Breast Health Facilitator and Reach-to-Recovery Volunteer, and a member of the UCSD Thrivers' Network. Susan is the Executive Administrator of the Blood & Marrow Transplantation Program of the University of California, San Diego Cancer Center. She has chaired numerous cancer symposia and special events, teaches breast health classes, and is often an invited guest speaker on cancer outreach, education, and survivorship. A San Francisco Bay Area native, she currently resides in Spring Valley (San Diego County), California with her family and two dogs.
CAROL VOELKER
Non-Profit Health Organization
(July 1, 1995 — June 30, 1998)
Carol J. Voelker, Ph.D. was appointed to the BCRC in July, 1995, as a representative of a non-profit health organization. A sixteen year member of Soroptimist International of the Americas, whose focus in the health area is breast cancer awareness. Dr. Voelker is also a member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the Orange County Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She also works as a legislative advocate to obtain funding at both the state and national levels for breast cancer research.
BARNARESE WHEATLEY
Advocate
(May 18, 1994 — June 30, 1996)
Bonnie Wheatley, M.P.H. has devoted the past 15 years of her professional and personal life to remediating the potentially devastating effects of breast cancer on women's lives. Her work includes direct service working with various policy-generating bodies as well as with social science research teams in developing and designing multicultural programs to reach underserved communities. Ms. Wheatley currently serves as a Health Services Consultant for the Cancer Education and Treatment Program at Alameda County Medical Center. She also serves on the Boards of Breast Cancer Action, Komen Foundation (East Bay Chapter), and Cancer Support Community. She was the Northern California Coordinator of the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, a proposal reviewer for the Department of Health and Human Services, and an advisor to the Cancer Information Service-Northern California Cancer Center.
SUZETTE WRIGHT
Advocate
(July 1, 1996 — June 30, 1999)
Suzette Wright, M.S.P.H., is a five year survivor and advocate of breast cancer. As a member and current vice president of Save Ourselves/Y-ME Breast Cancer Organization in Sacramento, she was active in lobbying and testifying for the Breast Cancer Act of 1993. Suzette balances her advocacy work with teaching mathematics at the Learning Skills Center at UC Davis and spending time with her family. She strongly hopes that her twenty one year old daughter will never personally experience breast cancer.
