The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is the leading community-funded organisation in Australia raising money for research into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. The NBCF recently achieved a new milestone having now funded $50 million across 200 research programs since 1994.

BREAST CANCER MONTH (OCTOBER)
Breast Cancer Month 2008 was launched with NBCF Patron, Sarah Murdoch addressing The National Press Club in Canberra. Click here to read Sarah’s full address about the current state of breast cancer and her vision for the future.

The NBCF hosted 13 gala events around the country as part of the Global Illumination campaign. Nearly 60 icons and buildings were illuminated pink, including 18 Australian universities; highlighting the NBCF’s focus on research. Click here for more.

FUNDRAISING
NBCF corporate partners continued their support by producing more than 60 pink products across a huge range of categories.

Over 32 major retail distributors sold pink ribbon merchandise through more than 7,000 retail outlets nationally. Our Pink Ribbon Ambassadors were also very busy selling over $500,000 worth of pink ribbon merchandise.

The official NBCF Pink Ribbon online shop sold a great range of product from pink ribbon balloons and feather boas to T shirts and pyjamas. Click here to visit the Pink Ribbon Shop.

More than 6,500 people registered to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast and there were more than 350 big and small community fundraisers held to raise money for breast cancer research.

RESEARCH
On Pink Ribbon Day (October 27), the NBCF awarded two of the largest ever Career Fellowships for breast cancer in Australia. Click here to read more about the Fellowships and how they will help Australian families affected by breast cancer.

THANK YOU
The funds we have received from our community support are already being allocated to new research programs. Such success cannot be achieved without the overwhelming support of the community and business partners and we thank all who have contributed both time and money to help us reach our October fundraising target of $5 million.

NBCF has received an overwhelming number of enquires regarding the NBCF BreastScreen Australia Cohort Study announced by Sarah Murdoch on the 24th September. Your response to the call to action has been fabulous and we thank you. Your interest has reinforced how successful this study can be.

The study is in it infancy. The research team and its collaborators such as BreastScreen are working hard to develop the necessary documents and protocols to ensure that the study runs within ethics approval and is research sound. It is therefore anticipated that recruitment will take place in the first quarter of 2009 in Victoria.

Recruitment in other states will follow in Phase 2.

Please click here for frequently asked questions and answers (190KB)

STOP PRESS - GOVERNMENT TO MATCH $2.5 MILLION COMMITMENT TO BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

Click here for details (60KB)

Research News:

BREAST CANCER TISSUE BANK – open for business

The Breast Cancer Tissue Bank is open for applications for tissue and other material.

The Breast Cancer Tissue Bank is a non-profit making resource dedicated to providing material and associated data to Australian researchers. Funding is provided by NHMRC, The National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Institute of NSW.

For enquiries please contact:

• Project Manager: Jane Carpenter
• Email: jane_carpenter@wmi.usyd.edu.au
• Tel : 02 9845 9006
• Web: www.abctb.org.au

New Research Milestones Booklet 2008 launched

The Research Strategy Team is thrilled to announce the publication of the new Research Milestones 2008 booklet. This annual booklet reports on the distribution of NBCF funds across different research projects and highlights some of the exciting research developments across major areas of breast cancer research.

The 2008 booklet wears the message - “Doing breast cancer research costs a fortune – not doing it costs more”. NBCF cannot provide opportunities for funding Australia’s most talented researchers, nor make real advances in battling breast cancer, without the continued generosity of the Australian public and our corporate supporters. Research takes lots of time and money.

Research Milestones 2008 emphasizes the need for your continued support, as our researchers attack this aggressive disease head-on.

You can download the Research Milestones 2008 booklet below. We welcome your feedback on info@nbcf.org.au

New information service

The NBCF’s Research Strategy Team has launched its free information email service. The intention is to circulate research team driven information to interested supporters e.g. research team media releases, amendments to our grants portfolio, calls for applications, profiles on grants and researchers. If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to the NBCF Research Information List please email researchinfo@nbcf.org.au.

Conference News:

Everyday Breast Cancer Heroes Make A Difference - Recognise Them Today

The second annual AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Care Award is open for entries to celebrate healthcare professionals who have shown remarkable compassion and care for their patients with breast cancer.

Click here to download a nomination form (583 KB PDF)