The NCRI Breast Group has published its strategic priorities to address challenges faced in breast cancer research and improve outcomes for patients.
The group have identified five strategic areas in which the group will be focussing its efforts over the next three years.
The NCRI Breast Group is the second to adopt a new model for the NCRI Groups (the NCRI Brain Group announced its strategic priorities earlier this year) to become more agile and wide-reaching. As part of the new model, each group will work closely with the NCRI, NCRI Partners, Consumers and the broader cancer community to identify its strategic priorities.
The strategic priorities identified by the group are as follows:
- Personalised medicine and risk-adapted studies
- Metastatic breast cancer
- Symptom management
- Early breast cancer clinical trials
- Understanding the immuno-biology of breast cancer
NCRI Breast Group’s strategic priorities
The NCRI Breast Group has a strong track record of developing impactful, practice-changing research, borne of our strong multidisciplinary membership and our partnership with patients. The group has continued to develop new studies to address some of the major challenges in breast cancer despite the challenges of the last few years, with some significant projects now funded and in set up.
Mr Stuart McIntosh, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Belfast City Hospital and Chair, NCRI Breast Group
To identify the key priorities in breast cancer research, the NCRI Breast Group held four virtual sessions, attracting over 60 participants from various sectors and disciplines, including NCRI Consumer Forum members, Early Career Researchers and Partners.
There remain many unanswered questions in breast cancer research. It was fantastic to have so many colleagues from all aspects of breast cancer research and our patient advocates attending our recent series of strategy meetings. We are very grateful to all those involved for their contributions to developing these priorities for the NCRI Breast Group. We look forward to working together across the NCRI Networks to address these and improve outcomes and quality of life for breast cancer patients now and in the future.
Mr Stuart McIntosh, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Belfast City Hospital and Chair, NCRI Breast Group
The sessions allowed for discussion on the overarching challenges, opportunities and gaps in breast cancer research and specific issues and areas of unmet need in the field.
Experts exchanged ideas on the priorities for future breast cancer research. Each session involved researchers from wide-ranging disciplines encouraging cross-cutting collaboration to meet today’s most pressing needs in breast cancer research.
Working groups addressing each specific strategic priority are currently being formed. These groups will be made up of the experts needed to address each research question. To ensure you are made aware of opportunities to join the working groups, join the NCRI Breast Network.