THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BRINKER AWARD WINNERS

Breast Cancer Trials congratulates Professor Geoffrey Lindeman and Professor Jane Visvader, who have received the Susan G. Komen Brinker Award for Distinction in Basic Science at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference in the United States.

Established by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in 1992, the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction recognises leading scientists for significant work in advancing research concepts and for clinical application in the fields of breast cancer research, screening or treatment. The award is presented to basic and clinical researchers who have made seminal advances in the fight against breast cancer. In addition, the award recognises scholars for a specific contribution, a consistent pattern of contributions, or leadership in the field that has had a substantial impact on the fight against breast cancer.

Professor Lindeman and Professor Visvader are both members of Breast Cancer Trials (BCT), and Geoff is a member of BCT’s Scientific Advisory Committee and a former BCT Board Director. They are the Joint Division Heads of the Cancer Biology and Stem Cells Division at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne. Their important contributions to breast cancer research include:

· Identifying breast stem cells, which give rise to normal breast tissue;

· Defining how normal breast growth is regulated, and how errors lead to breast cancer;

· Identifying the breast cells that are predisposed to becoming cancerous in women with BRCA1 gene mutations;

· Discovering potential strategies to treat and prevent breast cancer.

Geoff and Jane’s laboratory studies led to the opening of the BRCA-P clinical trial – a world-first clinical trial being coordinated in Australia by BCT, which aims to prevent breast cancer in women with the BRCA1 gene mutation. BRCA-P has been fast-tracked from the laboratory because of the very positive pre-clinical data seen and because a Phase III clinical trial can provide the large numbers of participants needed to indicate efficacy in the shortest timeframe. If the trial is successful, it will be the first treatment shown to prevent ER-negative breast cancer. Professor Lindeman is the BCT Study Chair of the BRCA-P clinical trial.

Breast Cancer Trials – www.breastcancertrials.org.au – has been conducting clinical trials research for more than 40 years and the results have improved the treatment of the disease which has saved millions of lives through research collaboration. The research program brings together about 800 researchers in 102 institutions throughout Australia and New Zealand. More than 15,700 women have participated in BCT clinical trials.

Media contact: Anna Fitzgerald, BCT Communications Manager 0400 304 224 or anna.fitzgerald@bctrials.org.au

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