Cancer Research: #RadicalCollaboration

Break Through Cancer empowers outstanding researchers and physicians to both intercept and find cures for the deadliest cancers by stimulating radical collaboration.

Empowers

Break Through Cancer is committed to reducing the day-to-day barriers to cross-institutional collaboration such as contract negotiations, data sharing, intellectual property, and authorship policies.

Outstanding Researchers and Physicians

Break Through Cancer is a first-of-its-kind collaboration of five of the top cancer research centers in the world: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

deadliestcancers

Break Through Cancer is focused on several of the world’s deadliest cancers. These are diseases with poor prognoses for which progress has been very slow.

Radicalcollaboration

Radical collaboration is the expectation of all Break Through Cancer researchers, physicians, and other partners. Radical collaboration requires sharing discoveries and data in real time, a trust and willingness to critique each other’s ideas, and a sense of urgency knowing that lives are at stake.

“When we act together we have the potential to be an unstoppable force. There is nothing that will build momentum and progress faster.”

Tyler Jacks, PhD
President, Break Through Cancer

“When we act together we have the potential to be an unstoppable force. There is nothing that will build momentum and progress faster.”

Tyler Jacks, PhD
President, Break Through Cancer

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE

abstract laboratory medical background. petri dishes, test tubes

Andrew Aguirre, MD, PhD

"KRAS inhibitors have the potential to transform how we treat pancreatic cancer. We are grateful for the tremendous support of Break Through Cancer and the Lustgarten Foundation to help bring these promising new therapies to patients."

Learn More

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Conquering KRAS in pancreatic cancer

Angela Belcher, PhD

"I have never had a project that I have been more excited about working on. Some of my brightest moments over the pandemic have been working with the Break Through Cancer team. I would say that this is one of the most meaningful collaborations of my career. It is a privilege to be part of this effort."

Learn More

MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research

Intercepting Ovarian Cancer

Abstract nano molecular structure. Water 3d spheres

Amir A. Jazaeri, MD

"We want to learn from every patient. We want to think outside of the box. We want to work in a way that the overall scientific community may not readily accept. Because if we are going to really change the paradigm, we must act differently than ever before. We do not want incremental change. We want transformative change. "

Learn More

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Targeting Minimal Residual Disease in Ovarian Cancer

Rebecca Stone, MD

Learn More

"This is an unprecedented opportunity in the history of science and medicine."

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

Intercepting Ovarian Cancer

Nathalie Agar, PhD

Learn More

"The ability to cross-fertilize research and interact with other teams across diseases helps us to think differently. It brings new perspectives to our work. We are excited to bring lessons learned from research on other challenging cancers to our work on glioblastoma. "

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Revolutionizing GBM Drug Development Through Serial Biopsies

Neal Rosen, MD, PhD

"Pancreatic cancer is a horrible disease for which few treatments are effective. Ninety-five percent of pancreas cancers develop from mutations in the KRAS gene, for which no drugs are available. Now that KRAS inhibitors have begun to be developed, it is exciting to be part of the aggressive BTC aggressive effort to use them to develop the develop meaningful therapies for this disease."

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Conquering KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer

Learn More

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD

"The immune system is a powerful weapon against cancer and immunotherapy has led to cures for some cancer patients. Our team is working to help patients with GBM, a tumor type that has not responded well to immunotherapy previously. We hope to advance the scientific knowledge regarding the GBM tumor microenvironment in order to develop effective therapeutic strategies."

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Revolutionizing GBM Drug Development Through Serial Biopsies

Learn More

Thomas R. Pisanic II, PhD

"I am thrilled to be a part of Break Through Cancer's mission to discover groundbreaking cures for intractable malignancies such as ovarian cancer. I fully expect that BTC's vision for a true "team science" approach will serve as a paradigm example for current and future medical researchers in the 21st century and beyond."

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

intercepting Ovarian Cancer

Learn More

Michael Cima, PhD

"Break Through Cancer gives us a rare opportunity to bring bench science to the clinic. This is not as easy as one might think, but it will undoubtedly yield important results that will increase the rate at which we can learn about GBM. "

MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research

Revolutionizing GBM Drug Development Through Serial Biopsies

Learn More

Karen Lu, MD

"Break Through Cancer is not afraid to boldly tackle several of the world’s most challenging and deadly diseases. It is this fearlessness that really resonates with me. Break Through Cancer urges all participants to think outside standard academic boundaries in addressing these intractable issues. "

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Targeting Minimal Residual Disease in Ovarian Cancer Intercepting Ovarian Cancer

Learn More

Tuomas Tammela, MD PhD

Learn More

"Break Through Cancer is an unprecedented opportunity for me to make a difference in the lives of pancreas cancer patients, by working with incredible colleagues across top institutions."

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Conquering KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer

UPDATES AND NEWS

News

April 4, 2024April 4, 2024

Radical Collaboration: Reimagining Cancer Team Science | Nature Discovery

News

March 4, 2024March 4, 2024

Breakthroughs In The Battle Against Cancer With Tyler Jacks | Health Gig Podcast

News

March 16, 2023

Removing fallopian tubes can prevent ovarian cancers without causing menopause. But who’s eligible? | WBUR

News

February 23, 2023March 16, 2023

More physicians are calling for fallopian tube removal to prevent ovarian cancer | STAT

View All

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Break Through Cancer was created in February 2021 with an extraordinary matching gift of $250,000,000. Every gift to the Foundation supports groundbreaking cancer research and helps us to meet our matching commitment.

For questions about giving please email Lisa Schwarz, Chief Philanthropy Officer at LMS@BreakThroughCancer.org

Give Now