Susan G. Komen® Announces Inaugural Metastatic Breast Cancer Collaborative Research Virtual Summit

Feb. 19 Virtual Event Unites Researchers from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Duke  

Susan G. Komen^®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, today announced the Susan G. Komen MBC Collaborative Research Virtual Summit will be held Feb. 19, 2021. The event is sponsored by Biologics by McKesson and will bring together leading breast cancer researchers from each institution for the purpose of collaborating on metastatic breast cancer (MBC) research.  

The Summit is a key event of the Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer Collaborative Research Initiative, which was launched in 2019 to bring together Komen and researchers at two of the world’s most renowned cancer centers – Duke Cancer Institute and the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center – to develop treatments that will help people with MBC to live longer, better lives. While often rivals in other settings, the institutions are united by a shared desire to accelerate therapies for treating the disease and ultimately finding the cures.

MBC is the most advanced stage of breast cancer, known as stage IV, where breast tumor cells have spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs or brain. In the U.S., it’s estimated that at least 168,000 women are living with MBC. This year, more than 44,000 women and men in the U.S. are expected to die from breast cancer, most of them from MBC. There is currently no cure for the disease and treatment focuses on controlling the spread of the cancer.

Earlier this month, Komen announced it has raised close to $1 million for the Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer Collaborative Research Initiative. With the funds raised, Komen will issue grants for the purpose of collaborating on research into critical gaps in knowledge about MBC and more effective therapies, and strategies to prevent metastasis from occurring.

The Summit will include a robust discussion about the most critical MBC research needs. Participants will hear valuable perspectives from MBC patients, learn what researchers at both institutions are doing to end MBC and meet potential collaborators to expand and develop new ideas that could receive grant funding.

Following the conclusion of the Summit, a virtual press conference will be held to answer questions about the MBC Collaborative Research Initiative and Summit. The press event will include:

• Pam Kohl, Development Director, MBC Collaborative Research Initiative
• Brandon Tom, VP and General Manager at Biologics by McKesson
• Dr. Kia Williams, Associate Medical Director at Blue Cross NC
• Donald McDonnell, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Cancer Biology, Duke University
• Dr. Lisa Carey, Deputy Director of Clinical Sciences, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Kimberly Sabelko, Ph.D., Vice President, Scientific Strategy & Programs, Susan G Komen

The press conference will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET. Reporters interested in attending should RSVP to press@komen.org. Information for joining the press conference will be sent to confirmed media.