Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center

2. Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center • Objective: understand determinants of early female puberty • Jointly funded by NCI and NIEHS • National BC Advocates lobbied Congress for $40 million to develop a network of research centers • 3 centers will be funded for 7 years each • Fund raising effort continue; more centers, longer funding, other type of grants Bob Bornschein 3-8-03

3. What do we mean by environment? • It is an all inclusive term • Carcinogens; radiation, DDT, PAH, atrazine • Endocrine disruptors; PCBs, dioxin • Phytoestrogens; soy, isoflavones • Nutrition; lipids, PUFA, soy, dietary supplements • Lifestyle; stress, poverty, family structure • Internal hormonal environment; estrogens, growth regulating hormones, liver enzymes

4. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/dert/programs/breastenv.htm

5. Key Components of the Program • Partnership between Federal researchers (NCI & NIEHS) and academic researchers • Partnerships with breast cancer advocacy groups • Collaborations across 3 centers; common protocols and data sharing • Integration of individual ideas into collaborative projects across centers • Committees will set milestones yearly and then assess progress • Seven year program period; $900,000 per year • First year is dedicated to planning

6. Partnerships • There must be a solid partnership between scientists and members of the breast cancer advocacy community in each Center. • Teamwork is required • Developing the proposal • Communication on issues related to all of the research • Translation of findings to the interested community, public at large and policy makers in many arenas • The role of the breast cancer advocacy community is formalized in two places • Community Outreach and Translation Core • Placement of consumers on the steering committee, and the research subcommittees to ensure their voice is heard

7. 4 Components of a Center Sue Collaborative Project I Effects of Environmental Exposures on the Molecular Architecture of the Mammary Gland over the Lifespan (animal studies) Frank Collaborative Project II Environmental and Genetic Determinants of Puberty (children) Sue & Bob Administrative Core Katie Community Outreach and Education Core

8. Multidisciplinary Teams • Collaborative Project 1 (animal) • Mammary gland biology, pathology, molecular biology, toxicology, genomics • Collaborative Project 2 (human) • Epidemiology, exposure assessment, biostatistics, pediatrics, endocrinology, genetics • Community Outreach and Translation Core • Breast cancer advocacy, community groups, health educators

9. Breast Cancer and Environment Task Force • Federal scientists from NCI and NIEHS • National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council Members • Review progress • Coordinate Federal resources • Non-voting members of the National Steering Committee

10. National Steering Committee Center Director, COTC Director * National BC Advocates BC&E Task Force Breast Biology Subcommittee PI 2 Co-investigators 2 Members of COTC Epidemiology Subcommittee PI 2 Co-investigators 2 Members of COTC ** ** *One meeting per year ** Four meetings in year one, later years, as needed