Information
October 2002
The Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative
The Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative represents a unique forging of ties among
the public, private and voluntary sectors:
- Avon Flame Foundation
- Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
- Canadian Breast Cancer Network
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Health Canada, and
- National Cancer Institute of Canada.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative (CBCRI) is the primary funder of breast
cancer research in Canada. The Initiative was created in 1993 as part of the federal government's
Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative (CBCI). Overwhelming support from Canadian women, breast
cancer survivors, activists and Members of Parliament was a call for a research initiative
that would provide greater information on ways women can prevent the disease and continue
to search how breast cancer could be ultimately cured. An equally important objective was
to help women living with the disease. Since the beginning, breast cancer survivors have
been an integral part of the Initiative, helping to set research priorities alongside researchers
and health care providers.
Since 1993, the CBCRI has allocated more than $86 million to 287 breast cancer research
projects in many areas including prevention, early detection, treatment, fundamental laboratory
investigations, quality of life and health services. Details on each project funded are
listed on the CBCRI Web site.
The four original founding partners contributed funding during the first phase (1993-1998)
of the Initiative to be directed towards a coordinated program of breast cancer research.
The federal government committed $10 million over five years to the CBCRI. The National
Cancer Institute of Canada committed $10 million with funds raised by the Canadian Cancer
Society.
During the second phase (1998-2003), the federal government pledged an additional $15
million to the Research Initiative.
Moving into Phase III, the federal government renewed its commitment to the Initiative.
Health Canada has pledged $15 million and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has
pledged $14 million for the next five year phase to the CBCRI. Together with funding from
all of the CBCRI partners, total funding for research into breast cancer has grown to $60.5
million over the next five year phase of the Research Initiative.
One of the priorities during Phase III is prevention of breast cancer. Women want information,
they want answers on how they may make appropriate lifestyle choices to reduce their personal
risk of the disease. Partners are working towards information tools to help women better
understand the risks of developing breast cancer and some steps women can take to help
prevent developing the disease.
For more information:
|
