Abstract PO5-25-07: A research impact assessment method to evaluate Susan G. Komen’s research funding impact on drugs approved for breast cancer treatment
Authors: Dana Brantley-Sieders, Lauren Leslie, Amy Dworkin, Kimberly Sabelko, Kari Wojtanik
Journal: Cancer Research (2024)

Abstract Susan G. Komen (Komen) is the largest private funder of breast cancer research, having invested nearly $1.1 billion in cutting edge breast cancer research with a focus on conquering deadly metastatic and aggressive breast cancers, advancing precision medicine, and addressing disparities in breast cancer care and outcomes. There is a growing demand on Komen and other research funders from patients, donors, and other constituents to understand how investments in biomedical research translate into clinical impact that is meaningful to patients, the public, and others beyond academic publications and other bibliometrics. Komen uses a variety of approaches to evaluate the impact of our research investments, including a recently developed method to determine how Komen’s funding has impacted discovery and development of breast cancer drugs approved by the FDA from 2012-2022. Utilizing bibliometric analysis derived from the Dimensions for Funders platform, we systematically identified links between Komen-funded research, Komen-funded researchers, and FDA approved drugs. First, we identified fundamental clinical trials that led to initial and expanded FDA approval of each drug from prescribing information labels and press releases. Using API technology, we then performed a bibliometric linkage analysis and analyzed citation results from fundamental clinical trial studies, working backwards to capture fundamental pre-clinical and basic research studies that identified each drug’s target and its functions in the context of breast cancer biology. After collecting and curating publications in an unbiased manner, we evaluated each published study and contributing authors for Komen support. We identified specific “touchpoints” for fundamental studies including direct Komen funding for the published study and/or Komen support of key personnel. Early results revealed direct and indirect Komen research touchpoints across the research pipeline for several drugs, including direct touchpoints for basic, pre-clinical, and clinical trial studies that led to FDA approval of the PI3K inhibitor alpelisib, basic research and pre-clinical studies that led to FDA approval of CDK4/6 inhibitors, and basic research studies that led to FDA approval of PARP inhibitors olaparib and talazoparib. By adopting this approach, we can demonstrate the impact of Komen’s research investment across the full development timeline for each drug. This will allow us to measure and communicate how Komen’s investment in innovative research from discovery to clinical development is driving advances in breast cancer clinical care that improves outcomes. Citation Format: Dana Brantley-Sieders, Lauren Leslie, Amy Dworkin, Kimberly Sabelko, Kari Wojtanik. A research impact assessment method to evaluate Susan G. Komen’s research funding impact on drugs approved for breast cancer treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-25-07.