Sharing Research with Scientists and the Public

Even the biggest breast cancer research breakthrough will have no impact if people don't know about it. The scientific community needs to know about the results of research in order to make progress against breast cancer. The medical community needs to know, in order 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 in order 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.

For all these reasons, 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. The legislation calls on the Program to disseminate the research results.

The scientists whose projects are funded by the CBCRP publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present them at scientific conferences. We are committed to going beyond these venues, and to making the results and progress of research it funds available to a much wider audience. The CBCRP publishes and distributes summaries of Program-funded research over the Internet. We are 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. The Program's research results and research progress are disseminated in a variety of ways:

Research Symposia

The CBCRP periodically holds a research symposium, a statewide conference, free to the public, where researchers present the results of their CBCRP-funded studies. The Program's seventh symposium, "From Research to Action: Tools for Change," was held September 24-25, 2010, in Oakland. The symposium brought together over 450 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. Forty 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 seventh symposium included "Tools for Expanding the Research Paradigm," and "Making Chemicals Testing Relevant to Breast Cancer." 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 59 research projects funded by the CBCRP were on display throughout the symposium. 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. In addition, the abstracts to all of the research projects presented in posters were available on the Web site prior to the symposium and in the symposium booklet given to all attendees.

The majority of the scientific sessions consisted of presentations of CBCRP-funded research through panel discussion sessions and workshops. This was the first CBCRP symposium in which researchers funded through the Special Research Initiatives were able to present their progress.

At an Advocate/Scientist Collaboration Breakfast, attendees met in small group discussions led by breast cancer advocates. Topics ranged from conducting research that drives environmental policy, to socially responsible drug development, to advantages of including advocates in basic science research. Symposium attendees new to breast cancer could get the basics at a workshop called Breast Cancer 101. Also included was a training workshop for members of community organizations and experienced researchers who wanted to learn more about teaming up to conduct research with funding from the CBCRP's Community Research Collaboration awards.

Representatives from California community organizations staffed over 15 exhibits, sharing practical knowledge about what Symposium attendees can do to confront breast cancer in their own communities.

CBCRP Listens, a town-hall-style meeting, invited feedback on the direction the Program will take over the next five years. Feedback from past CBCRP Listens sessions has helped shape the CBCRP in important ways, including helping to stimulate the creation of our highly-lauded Special Research Initiatives.

An emotionally complex illness like breast cancer requires more than science to bring about meaningful understanding. Deeply-felt understanding is needed for the sustained effort necessary to reduce the impact of the disease. For this reason, powerful works of art were on display, speaking eloquently to the impact of breast cancer on the lives of Californians. The curated art exhibition included painting, photography, sculpture, graphic art, textile art, and mixed media, and the screening of a moving new documentary film, Dear Talula. A networking reception featured live music from vocalist William Mininfield.

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, no Styrofoam was used in the symposium food service, and recycling opportunities were provided. All printed symposium materials were produced on recycled chlorine-free paper with soy-based ink, and provided only to attendees who wanted them.

A meeting report, available on the CBCRP Web site with hard copies provided upon request, provides summaries of all presentations made at the 2010 symposium. Audio recordings of symposium presentations are also available on the Program Web site.

Sharing Research over the Internet      

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 profiles an individual researcher and her or his findings on a rotating basis. Visitors to the Web site can ask questions and receive answers via email. The CBCRP Web site also includes:

E-Newsletter: The CBCRP’s email newsletter 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. It is distributed to over 2,800 stakeholders each month.

Facebook and Twitter: The CBCRP has a growing number of friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter. Our Facebook page presents up-to-date information about breast cancer research, along with an online space to exchange ideas, ask questions, and follow links to information about CBCRP-funded research studies. Facebook users can also access invitations to events such as the CBCRP symposium, announcements of new CBCRP publications, and links to other breast-cancer-related organizations. The Program's Twitter feed also keeps followers current about breast cancer research and opportunities to take part in CBCRP activities.

Publications

All CBCRP publications are available free to the public and can be downloaded from the CBCRP Web site. Some of our publications are also available free to the public in print, with multiple copies free to organizations. On request, the CBCRP also provides free hard copies of any of our publications from the Program Web site.
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. It is available on the CBCRP Web site, with hard copies on request.

Formal Evaluations of the CBCRP: Formal evaluations let the public understand the CBCRP's successes and efforts to improve our work. The latest evaluation, "New Funding Strategy for the California Breast Cancer Research Program: The Way Forward," describes the evaluation process that led to the CBCRP setting new funding priorities for the coming five years. Evaluations are available on the CBCRP's Web site, many are also available in print, and hard copies of those not available in print are provided on request.

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 many past community research collaboration projects funded by the CBCRP, is designed to make community groups aware of this opportunity. The booklet is available on the Program Web site and in print.

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. Newsletters are published on the CBCRP Web site, with hard copies provided on request.

Breast Cancer in California: A Closer Look/El Cancer de Seno en California: Una Mirada Mas de Cerca: This 40-page booklet provides a picture of breast cancer’s effect on the lives of California women, and it is available in print and on the CBCRP Web site in both English and Spanish.

Identifying Gaps in Breast Cancer Research: This research paper reviews previous research in two areas covered under the CBCRP’s Special Research Initiatives: environmental links to 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.
Urgent Unanswered Questions about Breast Cancer: A 32-page booklet in language accessible to the general public, it highlights and summarizes previous research into the environmental causes of breast cancer and the reasons why some groups of women bear a greater burden of the disease. The booklet also lists promising ideas for research in these areas, and describes the first projects funded under the CBCRP's ground-breaking Special Research Initiatives. It is available in print and on the CBCRP Web site.

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

Further Methods of Sharing Research

Scientific Presentations at Conferences: The CBCRP staff and CBCRP-funded researchers present research results at scientific conferences.

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. The entire collection is on exhibit at CBCRP symposia. During 2010, portions of Expressions: the Art of Healing Breast Cancer were displayed, along with the CBCRP’s exhibit, at community meetings. An art catalog of this collection is available online at the CBCRP Web site.

Exhibits at Community Meetings: The CBCRP presented displays of the Program’s work at a number of community meetings and events during 2010. These 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 2010, newspapers nationwide covered CBCRP-funded research that suggests new ways to test chemicals for their ability to cause breast cancer. News about the CBCRP and research funded by the CBCRP also appeared over the past year in local California newspapers, and on a variety of general news, health news, international news, and blog Web sites.

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.