Advancing Risk Stratification in Young Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer
We know that there currently aren’t effective screening tools for women under 40. Rethink has long championed more risk-stratified approaches to breast screening.
That’s why we’re so proud to share Rethink’s a patient partner on a newly-funded research project: “Advancing Risk Stratification in Young Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer.”
This project is being led by Dr. Mark Basik and was awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention Team Grants portfolio.
What is this research about?
This five-year study will conduct molecular analysis of normal breast tissue in young women with breast cancer and young women without breast cancer, linking genomics and radiomics findings to lifestyle, menstrual, reproductive, demographic and medical factors.
In doing this, the team aims to refine how we assess individual risk and identify factors that could one day be targeted to prevent breast cancer before it starts. They will also use AI to analyze mammograms in these young women to develop a personalized screening strategy to diagnose these cancers earlier.
As patient partners, Rethink will help ensure lived experience informs the research process and will support with knowledge translation, so that discoveries don’t just stay in the lab, but reach the people who need it most.
We’re proud and honoured to be part of this world-class team to help rethink what’s possible in breast cancer prevention!
From left to right: Dr. Adriana Aguilar, Minister Marjorie Michel, MJ DeCoteau and Dr. Martin Yaffe
Meet the full team:
Principal Investigator
Mark Basik – Jewish General Hospital
Co-Principal Investigators
Caroline Diorio – CHU de Quebec
Martin Yaffe – Sunnybrook Research Institute
Co-Applicants
Adriana Aguilar, Jewish General Hospital
Ipshita Prakash, Jewish General Hospital
May Lynn Quan, University of Calgary
Yasser Riazalhosseini, McGill University
Collaborators
Guillaume Bourque, McGill University
MJ DeCoteau, Rethink Breast Cancer
Tassos Dionosopoulos, Jewish General Hospital
Manuela Pelmus, Jewish General Hospital
Knowledge User
Stephanie Wong, Jewish General Hospital
Learn how we’re rethinking research.
We know research is incredibly important to the breast cancer community. We agree and we’re rethinking how we take part in it too. With our focus on health equity, our research interests focus on pressing gaps like inclusive data collection and MBC-related projects.
We play a unique role in bringing the voices of community members to the table where research projects are taking place and in sharing our 20+ years of experience in breast cancer.