Breakthrough supports a programme of cutting-edge biological research to reach our vision of ‘a future free from the fear of breast cancer’. Through our research, we aim to increase our understanding of breast cancer, leading to improvements in diagnosis, treatment, quality of life and prevention of the disease.
Breakthrough set up the UK’s first dedicated breast cancer research centre in 1999, the Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research, housed in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, which was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales. Today, the Breakthrough Research Centre houses over 120 scientists and clinicians working together in a multidisciplinary environment.
Building on success
Building on the success of the Breakthrough Research Centre, we are opening three new Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Units in 2008, in Edinburgh, Manchester, and King’s College London, each with a specific breast cancer focus. The new units will enable us to spread the expertise, influence and multidisciplinary ethos of our research by working with other world class scientists in the UK.
As part of our research strategy, Breakthrough has also launched the Breakthrough Clinical Researcher Programme, which provides funding for talented clinical researchers. The dual expertise of these unique individuals is vital to bridging the gap between basic science and the clinic.
In addition to the above initiatives, Breakthrough also supports research in areas that are considered to be important to patients, and where it is recognised that greater research is needed. Breakthrough’s Complementary Therapy Research Programme is an example of this and aims to investigate the use of complementary therapies in breast cancer management in order to better inform breast cancer patients about the potential benefits and risks of using these therapies.
