Sharing Research With Scientists and the Public

The sponsors of the legislation that established the California Breast Cancer Research Program recognized that funding high quality research is necessary but not sufficient to fulfill the Program’s mission. Therefore the statutory language calls on the CBCRP to disseminate the results of the research it funds. If the research is going to be effective in reducing or ending the suffering caused by breast cancer, then people need to know the results. The scientific community needs to know, to make progress against the disease. The medical community needs to know, to improve prevention and treatment. People with breast cancer need the opportunity to learn about new prevention and treatment options. Breast cancer activists and policy makers need information about research results to shape their advocacy agenda. Communities affected by breast cancer need to know what’s been proven to work in other communities. And the taxpayers of California need to know what their taxes are funding.

The scientists whose projects are funded by the CBCRP publish their results in peerreviewed scientific journals and present them at scientific conferences. The California Breast Cancer Research Program is committed to making the research it funds available to a much wider audience. The CBCRP publishes and distributes summaries of Program-funded research widely, in print and over the Internet. The CBCRP is one of the few research funding programs in the world to publish annual summaries of research while the studies are still in progress, so that scientists and other interested people can make use of the information as soon as possible. Research results and research progress are disseminated in a variety of ways:

Research Symposia

Every two years, the CBCRP holds a statewide symposium, free to the public, where researchers present the results of their CBCRP-funded studies. The Program's sixth symposium, "From Research to Action: Breaking New Ground," was held September 7-9, 2007, in Los Angeles. The symposium brought together nearly 600 scientists, health care and social service professionals, and women and men whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. The CBCRP makes a special effort to bring women who have, had, or are at risk of breast cancer to the symposium. Eighty-two women received scholarships that covered their travel and accommodations. The mix of diverse attendees leads to spirited exchanges of ideas between researchers and the people most affected by breast cancer, as well as increased networking opportunities.

Plenary sessions at the sixth symposium included "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breast Cancer" and "New Directions in Breast Cancer Treatment." In these plenary sessions, and in workshops and breakout sessions, researchers presented their latest findings, gave overviews of research fields, and predicted coming trends.

Illustrated posters depicting the results of 80 research projects funded by the CBCRP were on display throughout the symposium. Five researchers presented their results in a plenary session. More researchers were on hand for a poster viewing session where they could answer questions and receive comments about their research directly from the public and their scientific colleagues. Trained advocates were also available to interpret posters for non-scientist attendees.

In addition, the symposium booklet given to all attendees contained abstracts of all research projects presented on posters.

At a Meet the Experts Breakfast, the public discussed breast cancer topics in small groups with research scientists and other experts. Topics ranged from advocacy for young women with breast cancer, to new drug development for treatment, to the environment and breast cancer. Attendees new to breast cancer could get the basics at a workshop called Breast Cancer 101.

The CBCRP's sixth symposium included a workshop for researchers who wanted to learn to navigate the Program's process for applying for a research grant. An extra day of training was also provided for members of community organizations and experienced researchers interested in teaming up to conduct research with funding from the CBCRP's Community Research Collaboration awards.

Representatives from California community organizations staffed over 20 exhibits. They provided information about what women could do for themselves and their communities to reduce the impact of breast cancer, including reducing their risk of getting the disease, finding support groups, and joining advocacy efforts to advance policy changes that improve access to diagnostic services and care.

CBCRP Listens, a town-hall-style meeting, invited feedback on the Program's Special Research Initiatives, which will investigate the role of the environment in breast cancer and the reasons why some groups of women bear a greater burden of the disease than others. Feedback from past CBCRP Listens sessions was one factor that led to the creation of the Special Research Initiatives.

The symposium also included a curated art exhibition of painting, photography, sculpture, graphic art, textile art, and mixed media. Also on view was Expressions: the Art of Science and Healing, the CBCRP's collection of wearable breast art, which has been shown in California art galleries.

The symposium was designed to be healthy and environmentally friendly. Free yoga and exercise classes were offered each morning. Organic produce was served when possible. The use of plastic products was reduced and Styrofoam products were eliminated in the symposium food service. All printed symposium materials were produced on recycled chlorine-free paper with soy-based ink. In addition, opportunities for recycling were provided.

A report, free to the public in booklet form and available on the CBCRP Web site, provides summaries of all presentations made at the 2007 symposium.

Web site

The CBCRP Web site (www.CABreastCancer.org) has summaries of all completed research projects and annual progress reports for ongoing projects, in language accessible to the general reader. All research on the CBCRP Web site is fully searchable, and visitors who want to keep up with the latest research can search to access the most recently posted findings. A featured researcher section, which changes 8-12 times per year, profiles one researcher and her or his findings. Visitors to the Web site can ask this expert questions, and receive answers, via email. On the CBCRP Web site home page, two short summaries of interesting research are posted, with links to further information. These short summaries change daily. Progress on the development of the CBCRP's Special Research Initiatives is also reported on the Web site.

Publication abstracts supported by CBCRP funding have links to the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed, a public-access database of biomedical journals. The CBCRP Web site also contains a list of each year’s awards and information on applying for grants. In addition, all CBCRP publications are available and downloadable. A new feature during 2007 allows visitors to listen to a presentation made at the CBCRP's recent symposium.

The Web site includes an opportunity to join our volunteer team, request specific information from the CBCRP and make online donations to the CBCRP.

Publications

All CBCRP publications are available free to the public in printed form and on the CBCRP Web site. Multiple copies are available free of charge to organizations.

Compendium of Awards: To make it easy for scientists and the public to follow CBCRP-funded research from the beginning, a description of newly funded projects is published each year.

Formal Evaluations of CBCRP: Formal evaluations let the public understand the success and need for improvement of CBCRP work.

Community Research Collaboration Awards Abstract Booklet: The CBCRP’s Community Research Collaboration awards bring together members of community groups and academic scientists to conduct breast cancer research. This booklet, with abstracts of all community research collaboration research funded by the CBCRP to date, is designed to make community groups aware of this opportunity.

Newsletter: The CBCRP’s newsletters report on new awards, research results, scientific meetings where the CBCRP is presenting an exhibit of Program work, and other Program news.

Breast Cancer in California: A Closer Look/El Cancer de Seno en California: Una Mirada Mas de Cerca: A 40-page booklet, provides a picture of breast cancer's effect on the lives of California women. During 2007, the CBCRP published the Spanish-language version.

Identifying Gaps in Breast Cancer Research: This research paper reviews previous research in the areas to be covered under the CBCRP's Special Research Initiatives: the role of the environment in breast cancer and the reasons why some groups of women bear a greater burden of the disease. The draft is available on the CBCRP Web site; a printed version will be published in the future.

California Breast Cancer Research Program brochure: An overview of the CBCRP, our philosophy, and opportunities to get involved. The brochure is available in English and Spanish.

Further Methods of Sharing Research

E-Newsletter: In May, 2007, the CBCRP launched an email newsletter that gives subscribers timely announcements of funding opportunities, early notification of new research resources and breast cancer conferences, and avenues to stay involved, informed, and active in the fight against breast cancer. The email newsletter is distributed to over 2,000 stakeholders.

Expressions: The Art of Healing Breast Cancer: The CBCRP owns a collection of wearable breast art created by California artists to reflect on the breast cancer epidemic. During 2007, portions of Expressions: the Art of Healing Breast Cancer were displayed along with the CBCRP’s exhibit at scientific meetings, and the entire collection was on exhibit at the CBCRP's 2007 symposium. An art catalog of this collection is available online at the CBCRP Web site.

Exhibits at Scientific and Community Meetings: The CBCRP presented an exhibit of the Program’s work at a number of scientific and community meetings during 2007. The meetings included:

Serving the Media: The CBCRP does regular outreach to the media about the Program and about CBCRP-funded research projects that are of interest to the general public. When reporters from TV, newspapers, magazines, or other media need information on breast cancer research, the CBCRP links them with the appropriate experts. During 2007, calls from both the public and the media rose after radio and TV appearances by Program Director Dr. Marion H. E. Kavanaugh-Lynch and a Sacramento Bee article that included comments from Dr. Kavanaugh- Lynch.

Speakers and Educational Bureau: When community organizations want speakers on breast cancer research for meetings and public events, the CBCRP provides referrals from the Program’s network of researchers and advocates. The Program also refers research experts to teach continuing education classes for healthcare professionals.