Abstract PO5-26-11: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Drug Research Collaborative – A unique and innovative model for industry-funded, academically driven research to advance the field of breast cancer
Authors: Unnati Jariwala, Dorraya El-Ashry, Judy Garber, Larry Norton
Journal: Cancer Research (2024)

Abstract The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is committed to preventing and curing breast cancer through groundbreaking research. In pursuit of this mission, the BCRF launched the Drug Research Collaborative (DRC) in 2016—a pioneering program designed to bridge the gap between academic investigators and access to investigational therapies, thereby fostering greater academic-driven research in breast cancer. The DRC's primary objective is to fund independent, innovative, and high-quality investigator-initiated trials (IITs) and pre-clinical/translational research projects. In conventional drug development, industry-sponsored registration trials play a crucial role, leaving limited resources and scope for exploratory and translational IITs that fall outside the industry's drug approval strategy. Additionally, industry-funded IIT research faces challenges such as reputational risks, perceived influence during internal review processes, intellectual property (IP) concerns, and logistics/program management burdens. The BCRF-DRC program addresses these challenges by issuing requests for proposals to generate creative and unbiased ideas, which are then vetted through an academic review process involving leading breast cancer experts. The most promising research projects are selected for further advancement. The BCRF-DRC program is facilitated by the BCRF research staff, providing project management, while the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC), founded by the BCRF and also supported by Susan G. Komen, supports the clinical trial aspects of the program. Since its inception, the BCRF-DRC has expanded from one to three industry partners, securing a total funding of $25 million for 15 projects, including seven clinical trials and eight pre-clinical projects. This abstract reports on the ongoing progress and outcomes achieved by these three programs. The BCRF-DRC represents a revolutionary paradigm in research funding and collaboration by harnessing the collective power of industry partners, philanthropic organizations, and academic institutions. Through this collaborative effort, the BCRF-DRC provides a unique platform for researchers to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into effective clinical interventions, thus making significant strides in the field of breast cancer in the coming decades. By empowering academic investigators, fostering unbiased research, and addressing the limitations of industry-funded IITs, the BCRF-DRC is revolutionizing breast cancer research and driving the development of novel interventions. This abstract highlights the transformative potential of the BCRF-DRC program and its contribution to advancing breast cancer treatments and ultimately improving patient outcomes. The success of this collaborative model serves as a testament to the power of multi-sector partnerships and the pivotal role they play in shaping the future of breast cancer research. Citation Format: Unnati Jariwala, Dorraya El-Ashry, Judy Garber, Larry Norton. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Drug Research Collaborative – A unique and innovative model for industry-funded, academically driven research to advance the field of breast cancer [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 PO5-26-11.