4th Inter. Symp. on the Intraductal Approach to the Breast
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: The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is dedicated to the eradication of breast cancer. The ability to access the lining of the milk ducts where breast cancer starts has provided researchers with the extraordinary opportunity to develop a new model for risk detection and prevention of breast cancer, much like the Pap smear for cervical cancer. In an effort to nurture this growing field of intraductal research, the Foundation initiated a biennial international conference. The goal of the meeting is to: (1) facilitate collaboration among researchers, (2) provide history and context to new researchers, (3) achieve consensus on the clinical utility of the technique, and (4) grant pilot money to those wanting to explore this approach. The growth of the conference mirrors the growth of the field from 30 attendees in 1999 to 120 in 2003.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The CBCRP Joining Forces Conference Award will help support the 4th International Symposium on the Intraductal Approach to the Breast on March 10-13, 2005. We anticipate more than 150 clinicians, researchers, and advocates from throughout the world will meet in Santa Barbara, CA. The purpose of the conference is to: (1) gather experienced and new researchers together to describe their experiences, to share their findings and to stimulate ideas related to the intraductal approach; (2) foster multidisciplinary and cross disciplinary collaborations; 3) provide pilot grants to further stimulate new research using the intraductal approach; (4) develop a consensus statement on the current clinical utility of this approach; and (5) foster a partnerships between the individual donors of research funds, advocates and researchers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Experienced researchers will start the conference with a short history of the intraductal approach followed by presentations from current researchers who have either published or are funded to do research in the field. General topics will include: (1) biomarkers, (3) proteomics, (3) genetic analysis of breast ductal fluid, (4) technical aspects of fluid analysis, (5) clinical applications of ductal lavage, (6) anatomy and physiology of the normal breast, and (7) intraductal therapy. A debate on the current clinical utility of ductal lavage will serve as the basis for a consensus report which will be issued from the conference. In addition, pilot grant applicants will present their proposals before the whole conference in order to gain from the collective wisdom of the participants and the critical evaluation by the peer review committee.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Scientific culture often fosters competition rather than collaboration. This conference is an attempt to counteract that prevailing spirit. All attendees sign a non-disclosure agreement attesting to the fact that they will respect the proprietary nature of any data that is shared. This fosters a unique open attitude, which leads to speculation and hypothesis sharing rarely seen in professional meetings. Researchers who have been in the field since the 1970s participate fully, allowing the newer entrants to avoid re-exploring previously unrewarding approaches. Collaborations are fostered and nurtured in this still small community of scientists and clinicians. The 2005 Symposium will include a clinical debate on the current clinical utility of ductal lavage, which will serve as the basis of a consensus statement to be submitted for publication. Finally, grant applicants present their concepts to the whole meeting, and benefit from the feedback of the larger community as well as the opportunity for collaboration. In order to accelerate,the research process, peer review takes place immediately and grants are awarded at the end of the conference.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Advocates are specifically invited from national and local groups (Y-ME, Young Survival Coalition, BCA, NBCC, LABCA, Women of Color, and CABCO). The Foundation and CBCRP funding will provide scholarships for a minimum of four advocates. Two advocates will be asked to participate in the peer review and two additional advocates will participate in the clinical debate. The conference proceedings will be posted on the SusanLoveMD.org website to ensure access for the advocacy community. On the second night of the conference a dinner is held where donors (large and small) for the research fund are invited to come and meet with the scientists they are funding. This direct connection between the source of the funding and the user of the funds is important in increasing the accountability of the scientists and the enthusiasm of the donors, and creating a unique research community.