PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Oncology Research Program (ORP) has announced new funding to support quality improvement projects aimed at advancing breast cancer outcomes. The initiative, made possible through support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, seeks to enhance care delivery across screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, with more than 300,000 new cases expected in 2025. Survival rates vary sharply depending on the stage at diagnosis, exceeding 90 percent for stage I disease but dropping below 30 percent for stage IV.
“People with breast cancer are living longer, in part due to novel therapeutics,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Chief Executive Officer of NCCN. “We have an opportunity to improve and extend even more lives by ensuring that innovations in care are accessible for everybody. We’re honored to support these researchers as they seek to improve the quality of care across the breast cancer continuum.”
The newly funded projects will focus on addressing health disparities, improving access to screening, and developing tools to strengthen patient engagement and adherence. The awardees and their selected projects include:
- Foluso (Bisi) Ademuyiwa, MD, MPH, MSCI, Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine – A Personalized Approach to Promote Health Equity by Overcoming Racial Disparities in Screening Mammography
- Julie Dang, PhD, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center – Education and Mobile Mammography for Breast Cancer Resources, Access, and Adherence via Community Engagement (EMBRACE)
- Ann Kimble-Hill, PhD, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center – Identifying Best Practices to Remove Barriers to Quality Cancer Care for Underserved Breast Cancer Patients
- Leah Marcotte, MD, MSc, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and University of Washington School of Medicine – Design and Pilot Implementation of a Chatbot to Support Breast Cancer Screening Among Black Women
“At Novartis, we recognize that while advances in breast cancer treatment have improved outcomes, significant barriers to care remain,” said Liviu Niculescu, Chief Medical Officer, Novartis US. “Our commitment to scientific innovation is matched by our dedication to ensuring everyone can access the treatment they need. Together, we have a shared goal that every individual diagnosed with breast cancer can benefit from the latest therapeutic breakthroughs.”
All proposals were peer-reviewed by a Scientific Review Committee composed of leading oncologists from NCCN Member Institutions. The selected projects are expected to be completed within two years.
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