Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation

Scientific Research grants are awarded to institutions in the state of Florida who submit proposals on innovative Research projects that have the potential to make a significant impact on Breast Cancer. The grants must be in one of 5 areas of Research: basic, clinical and translational Breast Cancer Research; epidemiological studies of Breast Cancer; Research on possible links between Breast Cancer and the environment; psychoimmunological Research; and innovative awards and idea grants. The Foundation received 23 proposals and funded 8 proposals, totaling $800,000.00. 26 independent reviewers who were from states other than Florida and who had no conflict of interest with any of the researchers or institutions that submitted proposals reviewed proposals in their interest of Research. 5 different Research institutions received at least 1 grant. The titles of the grants that were awarded were: predicting brain metastasis progression in stage iv Breast Cancer, epigenetic mechanisms of Breast Cancer dormancy, impact of south Florida environmental chemicals on Breast cells derived from women of different ancestries, understanding Breast Cancer cell resistance to immunotherapy, novel Breast Cancer therapeutics targeting a unique subset of disulfide isomerases, risk of adverse cardiovascular events in Breast Cancer patients receiving systemic adjuvant therapy: impact of frailty, impact of precision intervention on reducing Breast Cancer disparities, changes in cellular and molecular mechanisms for aging, immunity, metabolism and health after stress management intervention in older overweight/obese Breast Cancer survivors.

The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation awards grants for education statewide. The education grants are awarded in support of innovative projects in four priority areas: educate women in the areas where they need to become proactive for their own Breast health through education workshops; provide education to Breast Cancer survivors, their families and advocates on life after or with Breast Cancer, including the "transition phase" from active treatment to survivorship; provide education on Breast health to young women and men with a focus on middle school, high school and college ages; and create and provide a method of education on late stage Breast Cancer diagnosis that will help reduce the percentage of these diagnoses in the areas that exceed the state of Florida average for late stage diagnosis. The Foundation received 18 education proposals and funded 11 grants with a total funding of $84,930.00.

The fbcf direct services program invited applications from any florida-based 501 (c)(3) organization providing direct service support to Breast Cancer patients. The 3 available areas of funding include: organizations to provide living expenses to individuals in active treatment for Breast Cancer, depending on quality of applications received and budget availability; organizations to provide medical items to Breast Cancer patients and survivors and organizations providing tomosynthesis (3d) diagnostic mammograms to assist residents of the state of Florida in need of tomosynthesis (3d) diagnostic mammograms and/or screening mri services. The grant cycle received a total of 54 grant proposals and a total of 31 grants were funded. A total of $304,638.00 were awarded with the expectation that 2,301 patients and/or families would be helped by these grant awards.