Every October, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) celebrates groundbreaking advancements in breast cancer research at its annual Symposium and Awards Luncheon in New York City.

This special bonus podcast features a panel discussion from this year’s event, focused on prevention and treatment, with BCRF investigators Dr. Abenaa Brewster, Dr. Lisa Carey, and Dr. Robert Vonderheide.

Co-moderated by BCRF's Dr. Larry Norton and Dr. Judy E. Garber, who received the Jill Rose Award for Scientific Excellence, this inspiring conversation highlights the progress being made toward ending breast cancer.

Can we prevent breast cancer before it even starts? While treatments have made great strides in curing and slowing cancer, researchers are now focusing on strengthening the immune system to stop cancer in its tracks.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Vonderheide, director of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, shares his groundbreaking work on how the immune system interacts with cancer. As a leader in cancer immunology, Dr. Vonderheide explores how boosting our body’s natural defenses could lead to new ways to prevent, treat, and even cure breast cancer.

Differences in treatment delivery and receipt are estimated to account for about 50 percent of the racial disparities seen in breast cancer-associated mortality.

In this latest episode of Investigating Breast Cancer, Dr. Lola Fayanju discusses her work to understand how to close this gap. BCRF investigator since 2023, Dr. Fayanju, is an associate professor in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and chief of the division of breast surgery for the University of Pennsylvania Health System.