The City of Calera proudly announces its successful collaboration with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) for the 13th consecutive year, achieving a significant milestone of raising $57,000 during the Calera Goes Pink! campaign.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Personalized Medicine Program
BCRFA ESTABLISHES DOLLY ASHTON O’NEAL TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER PERSONALIZED MEDICINE PROGRAM
Birmingham, AL — The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) is pleased to announce the launch of the Dolly Ashton O’Neal Triple Negative Breast Cancer Personalized Medicine Program. This program, named after one of the BCRFA’s co-founders, is a collaboration between the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and the Southern Research Institute.
The BCRFA’s initial investment for the Dolly Ashton O’Neal TNBC Personalized Medicine Program will support approximately 20 patients with personalized breast cancer treatment plans. TNBC is a form of cancer having multiple variations making it extremely difficult to treat. It is commonly diagnosed among younger women compared to other forms of breast cancer. It is also more prevalent in the African American community.
Participants of the program diagnosed with TNBC at UAB will have a tumor biopsy, with a portion of the biopsy going through genome sequencing at HudsonAlpha to identify the specific attributes of the cancer cells. Additionally, a portion of the biopsy will be analyzed in drug screens at Southern Research Institute to identify new treatment options that are best suited to the particular patient. Finally, a portion of the tumor cells will be reserved for future TNBC research in a repository at UAB.
This collaboration among agencies will result in a personalized treatment plan for the program participants. However, it will also supply samples for future research in Triple Negative Breast Cancer through the creation of a TNBC tumor cell repository at UAB.
The BCRFA is committed to support this project for a minimum of five years, with a total combined investment of $500,000. Grants from Alpha Foundation, Inc. and AstraZeneca help support the program, which will help 100 women with Triple Negative Breast Cancer receive personalized treatment plans over the next five years. In addition to the initial patients supported, the creation of the repository for TNBC tumor cells will create a supply of TNBC cells for future research needs and analysis as researchers continue to work toward the elimination of breast cancer as a public health problem.
About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama supports a comprehensive approach to battling breast cancer through support of collaborative and innovative research to help diagnose, treat, prevent and eradicate the disease. Since its inception in 1996, the BCRFA has raised over $5.8 million to fund research at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and with their collaborative partners. All funds raised stay here in the state of Alabama, but the research will have a global, life-saving impact. BCRFA.org
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