Director's Welcome
On behalf of the Breast Cancer Research Program staff and Council, as well as the University of California, I am delighted to welcome you to the California Breast Cancer Research Program Symposium—From Research to Action: A Decade of Progress. This symposium is a celebration—a celebration of ten years of progress and of the promise that lies before us. It is also a celebration of the contributions that each one of you makes whether at home, in your community, at the lab bench, in the clinic, in a private conversation, or from the lectern, as we strive to eliminate breast cancer from our lives. It is also a coming together; to learn, to debate, and to gather ideas and new energy that will hasten us to our goal.
By gathering together, we are focusing California’s attention on an issue that matters to all women and their families—in other words, to all of us—the biggest threat to young and middle-aged women’s lives. Ten years ago, some of you and others no longer with us gathered in Sacramento to challenge the State of California to address this threat by investing in research.
Legislators, advocates, scientists, and university officials worked together to create what is now the third largest funder of breast cancer research in the world—the California Breast Cancer Research Program. Over the past ten years, CBCRP has awarded nearly $150 million to support 568 research projects to 62 institutions across the state. These projects, made possible by the CBCRP, have pushed boundaries and advanced discoveries in breast cancer research. The Symposium provides us all the opportunity to learn about these advances and to reflect on promising, innovative avenues of research for the coming decade. In honor of those who gathered in Sacramento a decade ago, let us challenge ourselves to ensure that the coming decade brings progress—more, better, faster. Today’s research will propel us to tomorrow’s action.
Mhel Kavanaugh-Lynch, M.D., M.P.H.
Director, California Breast Cancer Research Program
