News & Alerts

National Breast Cancer Coalition Awards Seed Grant for Preventive Breast Cancer Vaccine

October 9, 2012

Dr. Paul Spellman and Dr. Joe Gray of Oregon Health and Science University receive grants through the generous support of the National Philanthropic Trust

Washington, DC, October 9, 2012—Through the generous support of National Philanthropic Trust (NPT), the National Breast Cancer Coalition(NBCC) today awarded a seed grant for nearly $200,000 to Dr. Paul Spellman and Dr. Joe Gray of Oregon Health and Science University to identify possible vaccine targets using existing and developing human genomic data within different breast cancer subtypes. The analysis will generate a prioritized list of about 50-100 potential breast cancer specific targets to be considered for incorporation into a preventive vaccine. This seed grant is part of NBCC’s Artemis Project® for a preventive vaccine, which brings together a collaborative group of advocates and scientists to take a strategic, systematic yet broad approach to the development of a breast cancer vaccine within five years.

Initial data from the seed grant research will be presented at the next Artemis Project® annual meeting to be held in March, 2013.

“We are extremely grateful to both NPT and NBCC for allowing us to participate in the Artemis project by providing this generous award. We look forward to presenting our findings at the annual meeting in March,” said Dr. Spellman.

“NBCC advocates believe that by leveraging all available resources in a collaborative and rapid research process, it is possible to cultivate the development of innovative ideas that will end breast cancer,” said NBCC President Fran Visco. “We are grateful for the generous support we have received from the National Philanthropic Trust to help move this very important research forward.”

“For ten years, NPT has provided financial support to NBCC and its arduous efforts to end breast cancer. We are particularly pleased to support this seed grant with funds from our Breast Cancer Fund and look to the day when those afflicted will no longer be plagued by this disease,” said NPT President and CEO, Eileen Heisman.

NBCC has set a deadline to end breast cancer—Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®—the end of breast cancer by January 1, 2020. Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® is a strategic plan of action that focuses on primary prevention, stopping women from getting breast cancer, and understanding and preventing metastasis (the spread of cancer), which is responsible for 90 percent of breast cancer deaths.

The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) was formed in 1991 with one mission: to end breast cancer. NBCC has accomplished much over its 20 plus years: bringing about unprecedented research funding to the worldwide scientific community, forging new collaborations to design research and set priorities, expanding access to information and care to underserved women, and launching unparalleled training programs to prepare advocates around the globe to work side by side with scientists, policy makers and health care providers.

Yet breast cancer continues to take lives. In 2012, nearly half a million women worldwide will die of breast cancer. In the United States alone, 39,510 women and 410 men will die of breast cancer. To renew the sense of urgency to its mission and refocus global efforts on ending breast cancer and saving lives, the National Breast Cancer Coalition set a deadline and launched Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. What does ending breast cancer mean? By January 1, 2020, we must understand how to prevent people from getting breast cancer in the first place and how to prevent them from dying from the disease.

About the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC)
The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) is dedicated to ending breast cancer by January 1, 2020 through the power of grassroots action and advocacy. NBCC supports increasing funding for breast cancer research; monitors how those funds are spent; expands access to quality health care for all; and ensures that trained advocates influence all decision making that impacts breast cancer. Join NBCC, learn more and take action. Visit BreastCancerDeadline2020.org

About National Philanthropic Trust
NPT was founded in 1996 and manages primarily donor-advised funds. Since that time it has raised over $2.8 billion in charitable contributions and currently manages over $1 billion in charitable assets. NPT has made nearly 60,000 grants totaling $1.5 billion to charities all over the world and ranks among the 25 largest grant-making institutions in the United States. NPT publishes the Donor Advised Fund Report, which is a unique, annual compilation and analysis of charitable organizations that sponsor donor-advised funds. Visit www.nptrust.org