Thanks to California state taxpayers, women across the country will benefit from the ground-breaking research made possible through the California Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP), the largest state-funded breast cancer research effort in the nation administered by the University of California, Office of the President. By supporting innovative breast cancer research, such as studies on cow viruses, Tibetan herbs and snake venom, the BCRP hopes to find better ways to prevent, treat and cure breast cancer.

“Breast cancer is a varied and highly complex disease, killing more than 4,200 women in California every year,” said Dr. Marion Kavanaugh-Lynch, director of the BCRP. “It is a puzzle made up of millions of pieces. As the research supported by the BCRP examines the pieces of this puzzle, we are putting them together and are using the picture that emerges to teach us how to prevent breast cancer.”

The BCRP has been funded since 1994 by Californians through the voluntary tax check-off on personal income tax forms, tobacco tax, and individual contributions. With these funds, which now totals more than $115 million, the BCRP has awarded 452 grants at 62 institutions across the state to California scientists and community researchers. Last year, more than $550,000 was donated from state taxpayers on their personal income tax forms.

Some of the unique studies currently funded by BCRP grants include:

· The effects of smoking on spread of breast cancer

· Returning to work and quality of life
after breast cancer treatment

· Chinese and Tibetan herbal therapy

· Using the catscan for early detection

· Cow viruses in relation to breast cancer

· The importance of support groups to well-being

· Snake venom remedies

· Pesticide exposure and breast cancer

Due to the innovative nature of many of these grants, much of this science would go unfunded if it weren’t for the vision, support and commitment of the BCRP and scientists to end breast cancer.

“The purpose of this great investment in breast cancer research is to hasten the day when we can prevent the majority of breast cancer from occurring, and cure what breast cancer we cannot prevent,” said Kavanaugh-Lynch, “That day is coming.”

About the BCRP:

Funded since 1994 through the tobacco tax, voluntary tax check-off on personal income tax forms, and individual contributions, the BCRP has generated more than $100 million for 452 grants at 62 institutions throughout the state. Grants are awarded by the BCRP to California scientists and community researchers to find better ways to prevent, treat and cure breast cancer.


The California program is the largest state-funded breast cancer research effort in the nation and is administered by the University of California, Office of the President.


For more information call 1.888.313.BCRP, or click here.