How we fund research

Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s vision is for ‘a future free from the fear of breast cancer’.

We are committed to funding innovative research of the highest scientific quality that shows clear potential to benefit people affected by breast cancer. Rigorous, independent assessment is carried out on all research proposals and ongoing programmes to ensure they meet, and continue to meet, this high standard.

Breakthrough’s governance structure is designed to ensure that the decisions of the Board of Trustees are informed by sound and independent advice from national and international expert scientists and clinicians.

All our ongoing programmes are reviewed at intervals of no less than 5 years in quinquennial reviews that include a site visit by our Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

New projects or fellowships are reviewed by independent committees such as the Breakthrough Clinical Researcher Committee (BCRC) or the Breakthrough Intramural Research Committee (BIRC).

In addition, Breakthrough draws on the advice of other experts if and when needed. The decisions of all of Breakthrough’s committees are informed by expert comments from external peer reviewers. As members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), we follow AMRC guidance on peer review.

An overview of our committee structure and Conflict of Interest Policies can be downloaded from this page.

Breakthrough is very grateful for the time and expertise committed by all the scientific and clinical experts that it consults during review processes.

Breakthrough is fortunate to have the continued support of a number of internationally renowned experts. Forming the core of our advice structure, the Scientific Advisory Committee ensures that Breakthrough’s ongoing research programmes are of the highest quality. Committee members generously give their time and expertise and Breakthrough is enormously grateful for their ongoing commitment.

An overview of the membership of the Scientific Advisory Committee can be downloaded from this page.

Breakthrough has recently implemented an electronic Grant Management System, Breakthrough Breast Cancer CC Grant Tracker, and applications and review submissions for our programmes have to be submitted through this system:

https://researchgrants.breakthrough.org.uk/Login.aspx

There are currently no open funding opportunities.

For questions relating to any of the above, please contact:
Dr Alex Bonner, Senior Research Officer

Documents to download:

Breakthrough Research Governance Structure

Scientific Advisory Committee - January 2011 (111 kb)

Breakthrough Conflict of Interest Policy

Breakthrough Conflict of Interest Policy Additional Guidance for Research Committees