The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama has announced grants totaling $1,275,000 to fund Alabama-based breast cancer research in 2022.
Grants will fund 24 research projects at seven institutions across the state: the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University, CerFlux in Birmingham, the Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama, Tuskegee University, the University of Alabama and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville.
This year’s grant awards, announced Dec. 2, increase the BCRFA’s lifetime investment total to nearly $14 million since its founding in 1996. All funds raised stay in Alabama.
“With this year’s historic investment in research, the BCRFA is proud to continue our legacy of driving breast cancer breakthroughs across Alabama,” said Beth Davis, the foundation’s president and CEO. “From advances in early detection to treatment options, BCRFA-funded research is giving hope to the countless individuals touched by breast cancer – and ultimately saving lives.”
BCRFA dollars function as seed funding for early-stage studies, allowing researchers to generate the additional data needed to attract major national funding. Many BCRFA-funded projects have later received multimillion-dollar national grants from the National Institute of Health and others.
“The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama has made remarkable investments in cancer research in our state, in particular by funding investigators and projects with significant potential to improve cancer outcomes,” said Dr. Barry P. Sleckman, director of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The BCRFA has been an incredible partner, and we are grateful for their support.”
The foundation’s funding is made possible with support from corporate and community partners; local, state and federal funders; event patrons; individual donors; and sales of the Breast Cancer Research specialty license plate.
