AACR announces major gift for breast cancer research

The American Association for Cancer Research today announces a $200,000 gift from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation which will create the BCRF-AACR Fund for Translational Breast Cancer Research.

Announced today at a Breast Cancer Research Foundation research symposium, the gift will be supplemented with a matching grant from the AACR Foundation for the Prevention and Cure of Cancer to create a $400,000 research grant fund for translational breast cancer research. Translational research is defined as a “two-way bridge” that conveys new ideas and discoveries between the laboratory and the clinic, bringing the benefits of basic science knowledge to patients more quickly and effectively. Grants in the amount of $200,000 will be awarded to cancer researchers through AACR’s rigorous and competitive scientific review process beginning in 2007.

“The AACR is grateful to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for this generous gift,” said AACR Chief Executive Officer Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.). “This extraordinary generosity ensures that promising cancer research will move forward, with the goals of bringing cutting-edge laboratory research, diagnostic technologies, and individualized treatments to cancer patients as well as exciting new prevention strategies to the public at large.”

The American Association for Cancer Research celebrates its 100th anniversary on May 7, 2007. To commemorate this event, the AACR Foundation launched a Centennial Research Grant Campaign in May 2006 with a goal of raising $6 million by May 2009 to support a number of vitally important areas of cancer research. The BCRF gift brings the AACR’s Centennial Research Grant Campaign to $2 million.

“We are excited by our new relationship with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, as such philanthropic partnerships are vital to continuing research. We look forward to working with the BCRF to accelerate progress against breast cancer,” Foti said.

The AACR Centennial Fund receives support from a broad range of constituencies, including individuals, foundations, corporations and AACR members. Donated funds are matched by the AACR Foundation’s reserve funds to create a larger pool of cancer research grants: contributions to a general “Grant Fund” are matched $2 for every $1 donated; donations to a “Fund for Early-Career Scientists” are matched $4 for every $1 contributed. One hundred percent of Centennial Fund contributions will be awarded as research grants. AACR, with its worldwide brain trust of scientists, is taking a leadership role in making funding for the most promising cancer research a national and international priority.

“This is a time of immense opportunity in cancer research,” said AACR President Geoffrey Wahl, Ph.D. “In recent years, there have been a number of significant advances in the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer, and there are many other promising innovations currently in development. We must make sure that we have sufficient funding to ensure that this promising research advances rapidly.”

To contribute to the AACR Centennial Research Grant Campaign, visit www.aacrfoundation.org.