UCSF Breast Oncology Program Scientific Retreat 2017
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Non-technical overview of the event and relevance to breast cancer: The UCSF Breast Oncology Program (BOP) Scientific Retreat will bring together a diverse community of individuals from UCSF and the Bay Area to learn about current breast cancer research from a variety of specialties. The two-day conference will include four sessions with scientific themes focused on: Advanced Breast Cancer; the Immune Environment; Breast Cancer Imaging and Breast Density; and Breast Cancer Heterogeneity. A poster session features presentation from advocates and a wide spectrum of researchers. The conference is an opportunity to highlight the most consequential discoveries of the past year, and present promising new research directions. The meeting will bring together a community of individuals interested in breast cancer research to interact, stimulating new partnerships and novel research studies with a translational focus. It is the goal of the BOP Scientific Retreat to offer the breadth of UCSF BOP research activities and to engage the audience in a discussion of matters that will improve breast screening, cancer care and patient outcomes through a sustained high level of stakeholder participation. Advocates from the BOP’s Breast Science Advocacy Core (BSAC) present their perspectives at key intervals during the retreat. The general sessions will be preceded by a special session for breast cancer advocates and breast cancer support and advocacy group leaders. 
 
 
 
 Description of event structure and intended audience: The conference is targeted to the UCSF Breast Oncology Program (BOP), a highly interactive community of individuals from UCSF and the Bay Area who are specialized in breast cancer treatment and research. The audience includes academics (both clinical and basic science professionals), corporate professionals, patient and community advocates, and policy makers. The symposium is traditionally keynoted by an internationally respected speaker, followed by podium presentations as well as perspectives from patient advocates. Presenters include internationally and nationally known local scientists and a select number of highly regarded scientists invited from across the U.S. An juried interactive, poster session will provide the opportunity for all meeting participants, including junior level personnel and patient advocates, to present posters. Advocates will also help select poster authors to present brief podium talks, which will be summarized by more senior discussants to frame the importance of the research within the current state of the science. 
 
 
 
 Innovative elements of the event and potential to generate new ideas/facilitate collaboration: The BOP conference is innovative in its ability to bring together physicians who treat patients, basic scientists devoted to discovering novel treatment approaches and therapies, and research advocates with a passion for advancing rigorous, patient centric, breast cancer research. Together the community listens to presentations about the state of breast science, considers a variety of viewpoints and perspectives, including those of survivors and advocates, and as a result, has helped generate collaborations and novel studies. The conference is a vital component of a vigorous and interactive community that conducts studies that make significant improvements to the type and quality of care for breast cancer survivors across California, the nation and the world. 
 
 
 
 Advocacy involvement: Members of our Breast Science Advocacy Core participate in the planning of the retreat agenda, helping to identify stimulating topics and speakers. BSAC representatives proposed the preliminary session mentioned above that will promote engagement in research advocacy and serve as an introduction to the retreat session topics. As noted above, advocates present the patient perspective on the research presented in each session. The prominent involvement of the advocates enables connections with researchers that develop into long-term partnerships. The advocates’ valuable insights provides the BOP with unique perspectives which have informed the direction of our major research programs including the Athena Breast Health Network, the I-SPY 2 clinical trial and the WISDOM Study.