Breast Cancer Research Program, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

Vision - A world without breast cancer

The BCRP challenges the scientific community to design research that will address the urgency of ending breast cancer. Specifically, the BCRP seeks to accelerate high-impact research with clinical relevance, encourage innovation and stimulate creativity, and facilitate productive collaborations.

Breast Cancer Research Program Cover Image

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The Breast Cancer Landscape (571kb)

This overview describes what is currently known about the most pertinent topics that are consistent with the BCRP's mission of ending breast cancer. Applicants are strongly urged to read and consider The Breast Cancer Landscape before preparing their applications.

BCRP Overarching Challenges

Considering the current breast cancer landscape and the BCRP's mission to end breast cancer, the BCRP seeks applications that address the following overarching challenges:

Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that are more effective, less toxic, and impact survival
Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer