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| RESEARCH PRIORITIES PROJECT |
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Background |
| In 1996 the Kathleen Cuningham Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, now the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), in partnership with the National Breast Cancer Centre produced and published a report, Breast cancer research in Australia: current research and future priorities.
To develop the report wide consultation was undertaken with consumers, members of the medical and scientific community and policy advisers.
Once compiled the report was made available to provide a basis for decision making in regard to funding breast cancer research. It was also anticipated the information would guide the NBCF’s approach when allocating funds to breast cancer research.
The guiding principles published in the report have been a major consideration in awarding research grants by the NBCF, as have the identified priorities, with a competitive advantage being given to research projects meeting these priorities.
The development of a national database of breast cancer research was an important achievement and has been a useful resource over the last five years.
The NBCF wishes to undertake a review of the findings within the report to assess its progress with current priorities, determine gaps that may exist in research funding and whether new research information has led to possible new priorities.
To undertake this exercise will require input from and communication with groups currently involved in breast cancer research. These groups include researchers, consumers, clinicians, policy makers, industry groups and of course the wider community which actively participates in fundraising for breast cancer, particularly research. |
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The Context and Principles |
The NBCF is the only national fundraising body for breast cancer research that undertakes a process of rigorous peer-review prior to disbursement of funds. The principle that underpins this process is that new knowledge - leading to improved prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer – arises from the support of excellent research.
A strong base of investigator-initiated research is the essential underpinning of a successful research effort. In addition, there needs to be consideration of strategic priorities, as there may be a need for research in areas where there is little research activity at present.
A rational, evidence-based and ongoing process needs to be established for determination of breast cancer research priorities that preserves the existing and important investigator-initiated research base, but also allows the definition of strategic research priorities.
The NBCF is one of many groups working in breast cancer control. The National Breast Cancer Centre and the state and territory cancer councils have an interest in breast cancer control and the peak consumer groups such as Breast Cancer Network Australia represent the intense interest of women around Australia in breast cancer.
The role of NBCF in raising funds and disbursing them for peer-reviewed breast cancer research can benefit from working in partnership with these groups.
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Click here to view the 2003 Meeting the Challenges Priorities Project report. |
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Steering group members |
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Professor Don Iverson
Chair, New South Wales |
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Associate Professor Judith Clements
National Health & Medical Research Council, Queensland |
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Dr Jim Kollias
Clinician and researcher, South Australia |
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Professor Sally Redman
National Breast Cancer Centre, New South Wales |
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Associate Professor Christobel Saunders
Clinician and researcher, Western Australia |
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Ms Lyn Swinburne
Breast Cancer Network Australia, Victoria |
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Ms Heather Wain
National Breast Cancer Foundation, ACT |
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