ACTION ALERT! Help Save the California Breast Cancer Research Program

The California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) provides funding for innovative breast cancer research in California. The impact of its research--which includes topics such as environmental exposures, disparities, psychosocial impacts, tumor biology, and more--fuels changes in how breast cancer is dealt with nationally and internationally. Now, the future of this program is in jeopardy.

In order to save money, the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), the administrative home for the CBCRP, has decided to gut the CBCRP. They are planning to transfer the funding of breast cancer research to a small, generic "Grants Central" unit and essentially eliminate the planning, evaluation, and information dissemination functions.

Since its inception CBCRP has spent an average of 4.18% on administration and 7.89% on planning, evaluation, and dissemination. The rest, over $200M, has gone to innovative breast cancer research. The shift that is planned would eliminate the ability to fund the best breast cancer research, which is only possible by evaluating what has been done and planning for future projects. Dissemination and translation of research--getting the research results out to the community and providers--is essential to any ethical research funding program.

CABWHP helped form the CBCRP in 1992 and has been instrumental in moving the program forward. We have served as a member of its advisory council for many years. The program is run by an unprecedented collaboration of survivors, advocates, activists, scientists, clinicians, and researchers. UCOP bureaucrats think they are better suited to determine what breast cancer research is funded then the women and men who work on this disease every day.

Take action to save this program!

Tell UCOP to leave CBCRP alone. Send the letter below to the Chairman of the UC Regents and ask him to stop this travesty.

Who should the email be sent to?

Email your letter to the Chairman of the Regents of the University of California: 
rblum@blumcapital.com

Be sure to copy the people below who administer the University of California:

dgresser@blumcapital.com 
Diane.Griffiths@ucop.edu 
Robert.Dynes@ucop.edu 
Rory.Hume@ucop.edu 
Steven.Beckwith@ucop.edu 
apadilla@orrick.com

Please copy pojea@bcaction.org so we'll know how many people took action.

Sample Letter

1. Step 1:  Click this link to create the email.  It will include all the people listed above.
2. Step 2: Copy the contents of the letter below into your email.
3. Step 3: Feel free to personalize the letter, including information about your experience with CBCRP if appropriate.

Richard C. Blum, Chairman 
University of California Regents 
1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor 
Oakland, CA 94607

Dear Mr. Blum,

I am writing to ask you to stop the efforts by UCOP to gut the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP). A generic "grants central" unit cannot provide the level of insightful funding CBCRP has done for years.

CBCRP was founded and is run by survivors, advocates, activists, scientists, clinicians, and researchers who focus on this disease every day.  We do not want or need more breast cancer research funding at the expense of smart breast cancer research funding.

Tell the staff at UCOP to leave CBCRP alone and to allow CBCRP Advisory Council (as the law states) and dedicated staff to continue its work of evaluating, planning, funding, and reporting on innovative and creative breast cancer research.

Sincerely,

Your Name

CABWHP