BIRMINGHAM — The search for a cure for cancer took a giant step forward or, rather, 1.1 million steps forward following a major announcement Thursday.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama said it will make a significant investment of $1,125,000 in 2024 to support breast cancer research in Alabama. This grant funding will support 22 projects at seven institutions throughout the state, enabling lifesaving breast cancer research to take place.
“This year’s investment of $1,125,000 reinforces our ongoing reputation as a catalyst for important research across Alabama,” said Beth Davis, president & CEO of BCRFA. “Our support allows research to occur that ranges from new early detection strategies to refined innovations in treatment.
“Ultimately, these investments give increased hope and improved opportunities to Alabamians and others who are fighting breast cancer.”
Among the beneficiaries are Alabama State University, Auburn University, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Tuskegee University, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama, and Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama.
This year’s grants warrant a watershed achievement for the BCRFA, tipping their cumulative investment in breast cancer research to over $16 million since its founding in 1996. BCRFA funding is made possible with support from corporate and community partners, local and state funders, event patrons, individual donors, and sales of the Breast Cancer Research specialty license plate.
“The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama continues to act as a progressive force for breast cancer research in Alabama and worldwide,” said Dr. Barry P. Sleckman, director of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. “This funding will thrust forward the work of UAB investigators, and others in Alabama, and we continue to be appreciative for their steady support.”
BCRFA funding allows for early-stage studies to obtain preliminary support, leading to researchers generating important data and attracting considerable national grants down the road. Multiple projects from the BCRFA have gone on to receive multimillion-dollar grants from national organizations like the National Institutes of Health, amplifying the significance of BRCFA’s investments in Alabama.
The 2024 recipients embody a unique and diverse cohort ready to accomplish huge advancements in breast cancer research, supporting new and innovative solutions and superior patient care.
The grantees are:
Alabama State University
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Dr. Parul Dubey: Bridging the Gap: Integrating Genetic Insights and FDA-Approved Therapies to Revolutionize Treatment for African American Breast Cancer
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Dr. Manoj Mishra: Nanostructured Copper Oxide Aptasensor for Noninvasive Early Detection of 8-oxo-dG in Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Auburn University
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Dr. Amit Mitra: A novel strategy to prevent the development of drug resistance in breast cancer
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Dr. Valery Petrenko: Development of advanced substitute antibody phage probes for screening/detection of breast cancer using sensitive inexpensive blood tests
Auburn University and Tuskegee University collaboration
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Dr. Maninder Sandey (AU) and Dr. Deepa Bedi (TU): Combining Macrophage Modulation, PD-1 Blockade, and 4-1BB Agonism for TNBC Therapy
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
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Dr. Sara Cooper: Identification of rare and population specific regulatory variation contributing to inherited breast cancer risk
University of Alabama at Birmingham
O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Dr. Erin Ahn: Phenotypic and metabolic reprogramming of breast cancer by mascRNA
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Dr. Sofia Beas: Neuropathological effects of chemotherapeutic drugs
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Dr. Jin Chen: Fusion AI for Intraoperative Margin Assessment of Breast Lumpectomy Specimens
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Dr. Blake Hildreth: Targeting CSF1R/PU.1 signaling and PU.1 superenhancer regulation in tumor progression across breast cancer subtypes
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Dr. Katia Khoury: Phase II single arm trial of low dose capecitabine in patients with advanced breast cancer
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Dr. Steve Lim: Nuclear FAK-mediated epigenetic reprogramming of triple negative breast cancer
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Dr. Timiya Nolan: ECHO: Exploring Cardiovascular Health Outcomes among Black Breast Cancer Survivors
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Dr. Catherine Parker: Research conducted by Breast Surgical Fellow
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Dr. Bin Ren: Targeting the signaling that drives arteriolar niche formation and cancer cell stemness
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Dr. Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin: The Role of Biomechanical Regulation in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
University of Alabama
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Dr. John Victor Napoleon: Design, Synthesis and Testing of Novel Tumor Associated Macrophage Reprograming Agents in TNBC Tumor Model
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Dr. Shreyas Rao: Engineered environments to probe immune cell-mediated reawakening of dormant breast cancer brain micrometastasis
University of South Alabama
Mitchell Cancer Institute
Mitchell Cancer Institute
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Dr. Debanjan Chakroborty: WNK1 and matrix stiffness: Exploring a novel axis in breast cancer progression
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Dr. Santanu Dasgupta: Circulating mitochondrial DNA for the detection of breast cancer progression and recurrence
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Dr. Simon Grelet: Targeting the nerve-cancer crosstalk to prevent breast cancer metastasis
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Dr. Chandrani Sarkar: Adipocyte and lymphatic endothelial cell crosstalk in breast cancer
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