$1.125 Million Investment Enables Lifesaving Breast Cancer Research to Occur

Grants from the breast cancer research foundation of alabama will support 22 groundbreaking projects fighting breast cancer across the state

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) enthusiastically announces its continued dedication to support breast cancer research in Alabama through a significant investment of $1,125,000 in 2024. This grant funding will support 22 unique projects at seven established institutions throughout the state, enabling lifesaving breast cancer research to take place. Among the beneficiaries are Alabama State University, Auburn University, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Tuskegee University, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), University of Alabama, and Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama.

This year’s grants warrant a watershed achievement for the BCRFA, tipping their cumulative investment in breast cancer research to over $16 million since its founding in 1996. Beth Davis, President & CEO of BCRFA, reflected on the organization’s consistent funding to achieve breast cancer research breakthroughs: “This year’s investment of $1,125,000 reinforces our ongoing reputation as a catalyst for important research across Alabama. Our support allows research to occur that ranges from new early detection strategies to refined innovations in treatment. Ultimately, these investments give increased hope and improved opportunities to Alabamians and others who are fighting breast cancer.”

Dr. Barry P. Sleckman, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, echoed Davis’s sentiments: “The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama continues to act as a progressive force for breast cancer research in Alabama and worldwide. This funding will thrust forward the work of UAB investigators, and others in Alabama, and we continue to be appreciative for their steady support.”

BCRFA funding allows for early-stage studies to obtain preliminary support, leading to researchers generating important data and attracting considerable national grants down the road. Multiple projects from the BCRFA have gone on to receive multimillion-dollar grants from national organizations like the National Institutes of Health, amplifying the significance of BRCFA’s investments in Alabama.

The 2024 recipients embody a unique and diverse cohort ready to accomplish huge advancements in breast cancer research, supporting new and innovative solutions and superior patient care.

The 2024 grantees include:

Alabama State University (Montgomery, AL)

Dr. Parul Dubey: Bridging the Gap: Integrating Genetic Insights and FDA-Approved Therapies to Revolutionize Treatment for African American Breast Cancer
Dr. Manoj Mishra: Nanostructured Copper Oxide Aptasensor for Noninvasive Early Detection of 8-oxo-dG in Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Auburn University (Auburn, AL)

Dr. Amit Mitra: A novel strategy to prevent the development of drug resistance in breast cancer
Dr. Valery Petrenko: Development of advanced substitute antibody phage probes for screening/detection of breast cancer using sensitive inexpensive blood tests

Auburn University (Auburn, AL) and Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL) Collaboration

Dr. Maninder Sandey (AU) and Dr. Deepa Bedi (TU): Combining Macrophage Modulation, PD-1 Blockade, and 4-1BB Agonism for TNBC Therapy

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (Huntsville, AL)

Dr. Sara Cooper: Identification of rare and population specific regulatory variation contributing to inherited breast cancer risk

University of Alabama at Birmingham
O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center (Birmingham, AL)

Dr. Erin Ahn: Phenotypic and metabolic reprogramming of breast cancer by mascRNA
Dr. Sofia Beas: Neuropathological effects of chemotherapeutic drugs
Dr. Jin Chen: Fusion AI for Intraoperative Margin Assessment of Breast Lumpectomy Specimens
Dr. Blake Hildreth: Targeting CSF1R/PU.1 signaling and PU.1 superenhancer regulation in tumor progression across breast cancer subtypes
Dr. Katia Khoury: Phase II single arm trial of low dose capecitabine in patients with advanced breast cancer
Dr. Steve Lim: Nuclear FAK-mediated epigenetic reprogramming of triple negative breast cancer
Dr. Timiya Nolan: ECHO: Exploring Cardiovascular Health Outcomes among Black Breast Cancer Survivors
Dr. Catherine Parker: Research conducted by Breast Surgical Fellow
Dr. Bin Ren: Targeting the signaling that drives arteriolar niche formation and cancer cell stemness
Dr. Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin: The Role of Biomechanical Regulation in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)

Dr. John Victor Napoleon: Design, Synthesis and Testing of Novel Tumor Associated Macrophage Reprograming Agents in TNBC Tumor Model
Dr. Shreyas Rao: Engineered environments to probe immune cell-mediated reawakening of dormant breast cancer brain micrometastasis

University of South Alabama
Mitchell Cancer Institute (Mobile, AL)

Dr. Debanjan Chakroborty: WNK1 and matrix stiffness: Exploring a novel axis in breast cancer progression
Dr. Santanu Dasgupta: Circulating mitochondrial DNA for the detection of breast cancer progression and recurrence
Dr. Simon Grelet: Targeting the nerve-cancer crosstalk to prevent breast cancer metastasis
Dr. Chandrani Sarkar: Adipocyte and lymphatic endothelial cell crosstalk in breast cancer

BCRFA funding is made possible with support from corporate and community partners, local and state funders, event patrons, generous individual donors, and sales of the Breast Cancer Research specialty license plate. Available at DMVs across the state, over 15,000 vehicles in Alabama sport the Breast Cancer Research tag. One hundred percent of tag sale proceeds received by the BCRFA support local, lifesaving research.

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama
Founded in 1996, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to find a cure for breast cancer by funding promising breast cancer research in Alabama and raising community awareness and funding for that research. BCRFA funds promote a comprehensive approach to battling breast cancer by fueling collaborative and innovative research to help diagnose, treat, prevent, and eradicate the disease. Thanks to generous community support, BCRFA’s lifetime investment in life-saving research totals over $16 million. All funding stays in Alabama, but the impact is worldwide. Learn more about our mission and breakthroughs at www.bcrfa.org.