HER2 Support Group Forums - Era of Hope, press release and video

Below is information about the Era of Hope Conference and the DOD BCRP, plus a link to a video about the program.

If you're interested in applying to be a peer reviewer for DOD, a great way to begin is to take a Project LEAD course, offered by NBCC (The National Breast Cancer Coalition). They now have two levels of Project LEAD, both fantastic -- plus follow-up courses that focus on specific aspects (clinical trials and quality care). You do not have to have taken Project LEAD to be a peer reviewer for DOD, but some basic science grounding will definitely help you when you read the proposals. Other organizations have science programs for advocates, also -- for example ASCO and Research Advocacy Network. Check out Project LEAD here:

http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020..../project-lead/

The Era of Hope video:

http://cdmrpcures.org/ocs/index.php/eoh/eoh2011/movie/

And the press release with information about the program:

" On August 2-5, 2011 at the Orlando World Center Marriott, more than 1450 researchers, clinicians, breast cancer survivors, and advocates gathered at the 6th Era of Hope meeting, sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP). The Era of Hope meeting is a unique forum for scientists, clinicians, breast cancer survivors (called consumer advocates within the BCRP), and the public to come together and discuss the latest findings in breast cancer research and future directions to eradicate this disease.
The 2011 Era of Hope meeting featured nearly 1,200 abstracts focusing on the BCRP’s breakthroughs in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. The most current topics in the breast cancer community were discussed at the meeting, including disease risk and recurrence, metastasis, stem cells, novel therapies, improved imaging, vaccines, and health disparities.

Some examples of the research reported at the meeting include:

§ Thermally targeted delivery of peptide therapeutics
§ Therapeutic eradication of DCIS progenitor cells
§ Discovery of new genetic markers for patients at high risk for bone metastasis
§ Genetic susceptibility for breast cancer in women of African Ancestry
§ Dietary consumption during pregnancy and breast cancer risk reductions
§ Development of vaccines to prevent recurrence

Since its inception in 1992, the DoD BCRP has become the second largest source of breast cancer research funding in the United States and has received over $2.68 billion in congressional appropriations, resulting in more than 10,000 unique awards that fulfill unmet needs in breast cancer research. Unlike other cancer research funding organizations, the BCRP is a pioneer in the inclusion of consumer advocates in every aspect of the research process. Since the program’s inception, more than 750 survivors have participated in the program, including setting the program’s vision, participating in the review of proposals, making funding recommendations, and aiding in the research process.

Through this approach of combined involvement, the BCRP enhances partnerships between the survivor community and scientists. The survivor’s unique perspective brings a sense of urgency to the program, ensuring the BCRP remains focused on its ultimate goal of eradicating breast cancer.

More information about the DoD BCRP is available at http://cdmrp.army.mil.