National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund

Founded in 1991, the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund’s (NBCCF) mission is to end breast cancer through powerful action, education and advocacy. Our goals are to make certain scientists have sufficient funding for meaningful and transparent research that will save lives, that all individuals have access to the health care they need, and that trained and educated advocates influence all decisions that affect breast cancer. We believe we are stronger together, and that real progress can be made if we use our collective power to end breast cancer. We invite all those who share our passion for the cause to join us as we push ourselves to ask the tough questions, challenge scientists, tell the truth, lobby for research funding and access to care, and push for what will save lives. All for the greater good.

NBCCF is a dynamic, diverse association with more than ten thousand individuals and hundreds of organizations (local to national) who give breast cancer a meaningful voice in Washington, DC and state capitals, in laboratories and health care institutions, and local communities everywhere. Our constituents come together under NBCCF’s umbrella in support of education and training, new models of science, research, and public policy, all to end breast cancer.

For nearly 30 years, NBCC has led the way in creating and facilitating collaborations; formulating and implementing plans of action; and identifying and pushing for patients and other advocates to play a meaningful role in research, healthcare and public policy. Our strategic plan of action seeks to harness the energy, resources and leadership around the world to achieve three goals:

1. research needed to end breast cancer;
2. global access to necessary information and life-saving interventions; and
3. the influence of leaders everywhere in the strategies to end breast cancer.

NBCCF has been transforming the breast cancer landscape and working to fulfill its mission to end breast cancer, since its inception. Our unrelenting focus on our mission, our determination to make breast cancer a priority for our government and the public, our courage to ask hard questions, our thoughtfulness as we reject popular thinking, our integrity to stand up and challenge the status quo, and our sense of urgency is what drives us to end to breast cancer.

NBCCF has been a leader in supplying the education, tools and training that enable breast cancer survivors and other advocates to take leadership roles in decision making that affects breast cancer research, healthcare and public policy. NBCCF works tirelessly to educate advocates in breast cancer science to better collaborate with leading breast cancer scientists; speak out on breast cancer research and quality care issues; and push for quality care and health care access to better serve all communities. We also educate our advocates, so they can work with researchers to help set the research agenda, understand how research dollars are allocated, and know what questions are being asked and how best to answer them. In addition, we bring together advocates, scientists and researchers from many institutions and disciplines to work on breast cancer research priorities. This has been developed through the Artemis Project®, our research program, which focuses on prevention of breast cancer and prevention of metastasis.

Finally, NBCCF is often the go-to source for responses to emerging breast cancer research and controversies. Our executive team, board members, National Action Network, grassroots leaders, and key advocates are active on national and international committees; present at or attend national meetings; participate in grant reviews; maintain an active presence on social media about NBCC’s education campaigns; and comment in local and national publications, resulting in NBCC having extensive connections with breast cancer advocates and scientists across the nation.

NBCCF has educated tens of thousands of advocates, leaders and the public about evidence-based decision making in breast cancer science and policy. We have developed and implemented a number of beginner and advanced training programs in science that aim to empower patient and consumer advocates. Through these programs, NBCCF and its advocates launched and generated more than 3.6 billion dollars for breast cancer research from the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. Our training programs also guide our advocates in influencing and participating in key efforts affecting breast cancer, such as patient-centered research, clinical trials, and federal and state laws.

The Artemis Project® is an innovative, advocate-led, research model, where scientists and advocates collaboratively develop strategic research plans to significantly impact prevention and saving lives. The Artemis Project® is a 10-year collaboration of researchers, advocates, and other key stakeholders who are prioritizing, designing and implementing research that focuses on two areas: Primary Prevention and Prevention of Metastasis (the spread of breast cancer). Our efforts have brought about new research models, and we are now in talks with the Food and Drug Administration about a preventative vaccine.