Research Strategy

Our strategy

In 2006, Breakthrough Breast Cancer published its Research Strategy (562 kb) setting out its priorities and plans for the next 5-10 years to address major scientific challenges associated with breast cancer.

Since opening in 1999, the Breakthrough Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research has been the heart of our research portfolio. 120 researchers in 10 scientific teams are now based at the centre, under the directorship of Professor Alan Ashworth. The centre will remain crucial to Breakthrough’s work, and our future research plans aim to build on its success.

As our research portfolio grows, we aim to spend approximately £12m a year on vital research, including building on the success of the Breakthrough Research Centre and the Breakthrough Generations Study, supporting the new Breakthrough Research Units and developing the Breakthrough Clinical Researcher Programme.

The focus of all Breakthrough’s research is to improve our fundamental knowledge of breast molecular cell biology and the genes involved in breast cancer, and to translate these findings rapidly to the clinic for the therapeutic benefit of all breast cancer patients. The Breakthrough Generations Study is the most comprehensive study into the causes of breast cancer ever undertaken, aiming to provide detailed information on the causes of breast cancer and, as a result, give an understanding of how the disease can be prevented.