Breast cancer research
Cancer Research UK is the largest single funder of breast cancer research in the UK. Our work covers all aspects of the disease, from its molecular causes through to the psychological effects of treatment.
Below are some of the highlights of our breast cancer research portfolio.
| Click on the names below to find out more about each scientist |
Or find out more on our breast cancer briefsheet (PDF download, 100kb)
Causes and risk
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Prof Alan Ashworth
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research CentreInstitute of Cancer Research, LondonUnderstanding the genes that increase breast cancer risk
Professor Alan Ashworth is director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre based at The Institute of Cancer Research. He leads the Gene Function team, which is studying how certain faulty genes can increase an individual's risk of developing breast cancer.
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Prof Valerie Beral
Cancer Epidemiology UnitUniversity of Oxford, OxfordWhat affects a woman's lifetime risk of cancer?
Professor Valerie Beral directs the Cancer Epidemiology Unit (CEU) in Oxford. Her team is looking at how a woman's lifestyle, including her reproductive and family history, can influence her health and whether she is likely to develop breast cancer.
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Prof Carlos Caldas
Breast cancer functional genomicsCambridge Research Institute, CambridgeHow damaged genes can cause breast cancer
At our prestigious Cambridge Research Institute, Professor Carlos Caldas is leading a team that aims to identify some of the genes that go wrong when a woman develops breast cancer. To achieve this they are screening thousands of tissue samples.
They hope that by investigating the role of these genes in the disease, they will be able to improve the way that breast cancer is detected, monitored and treated.
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Prof Doug Easton
Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology GroupUniversity of Cambridge, CambridgeHunting cancer susceptibility genes
Professor Douglas Easton is director of the Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Group at the University of Cambridge.
He is world-renowned for his research into genes that affect our risk of common cancers, particularly breast cancer. His team also works on ovarian and prostate cancer, and melanoma. Their findings will help identify high-risk individuals and could lead to new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease in the future.
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Prof Julian Peto
Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology UnitLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, LondonEpidemiology, genes and cancer
Professor Julian Peto is the Chair of Epidemiology at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey.
His group conducts large population-based studies and genetic research into several cancers, including breast cancer, cervical cancer and mesothelioma.
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Dr Paul Pharoah
Department of Oncology, Strangeways LaboratoriesUniversity of Cambridge, CambridgeGenetic variation and cancer risk
Dr Paul Pharoah works at the University of Cambridge, studying how a person's genes, lifestyle and environment interact to determine their cancer risk. In particular, Dr Pharoah is hoping to identify small genetic differences that may affect a person's risk of breast cancer or how they will respond to treatment.
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Prof Bruce Ponder
Cancer Research UK Human Cancer Genetics Research GroupCambridge Research Institute, CambridgeHunting cancer genes
Professor Sir Bruce Ponder is Director and Professor of Oncology at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute. He is world-renowned for his pioneering research into discovering genes that affect our risk of common cancers, particularly breast cancer.
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Dr John Stingl
Mammary Stem Cell LaboratoryCambridge Research Institute, CambridgeStudying stem cells in breast cancer
Dr John Stingl runs the Mammary Stem Cell Laboratory at our Cambridge Research Institute. His team is studying stem cells that fuel the growth of breast cancer. Understanding these elusive cells will lead to more effective treatments for this disease in the future.
Prevention
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Prof Jack Cuzick
Cancer Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and StatisticsWolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary¿s School of Medicine and Dentistry, LondonCancer prevention and screening
Professor Jack Cuzick runs the internationally renowned Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics at the Wolfson Institute in London.
The department carries out a huge range of research on many different cancer types, and is concerned with cancer prevention and screening, especially for breast, cervical and bowel cancers.
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Prof Jane Wardle
Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour CentreUniversity College London, LondonHealth behaviour and cancer risk
Professor Jane Wardle directs the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Centre at University College London and is a prominent researcher in the field of cancer prevention.
Her team is investigating why people behave the way they do, and finding ways to help them change their lifestyle to reduce their cancer risk. It's estimated that around half of all cancers in the UK could be prevented by lifestyle changes.
Screening
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Dr Joan Austoker
Cancer Research UK Primary Care Education Research GroupInstitute of Health Sciences, University of Oxford, OxfordEducation, informed choice and patient experience in cancer screening and early diagnosis
Dr Joan Austoker directs the Cancer Research UK Primary Care Education Research Group at the University of Oxford. Her team's research is aimed at providing people with evidence-based information to understand more about cancer screening and early diagnosis, so that they can make informed choices.
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Prof Stephen Duffy
Cancer Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and StatisticsWolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary¿s School of Medicine & Dentistry, LondonEvaluating screening and uncovering risk factors
Professor Stephen Duffy is a renowned expert on cancer screening and epidemiology (the study of disease in large populations).
He and his team evaluatecancer screening programmes to see how effective they are. They are also investigating the causes and risk factors for different types of cancer.
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Dr Ros Eeles
Section of Cancer GeneticsThe Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, SurreyStudying prostate and breast cancer genes
Dr Ros Eeles at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton is studying prostate and breast cancer genetics.
She is also involved in helping to evaluate the NHS breast screening programme, ensuring that the service continues to improve. To this end, she is investigating alternatives to mammography for women at greater risk of the disease.
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Miss Valerie McCormack
Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology UnitLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, LondonBreast cancer risk in different ethnic groups
Valerie McCormack works at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, investigating how lifestyle choices affect breast density in women from different ethnic groups.
Treatment
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Dr Simak Ali
Breast Cancer Research GroupImperial College School of Medicine, LondonUnderstanding breast cancer resistance to hormone treatments
Dr Simak Ali leads the Breast Cancer Research Group based at the Hammersmith Hospital. The team¿s research focuses on understanding how and why some breast cancers become resistant to hormone treatments such as tamoxifen and anastrazole.
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Prof Judith Bliss
Clinical Trials and Statistics UnitInstitute of Cancer Research, LondonImproving treatments for breast cancer patients
Professor Judith Bliss leads the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at the Institute of Cancer Research based in Sutton. Her team conducts clinical trials, which are essential to enable new treatments to become available for cancer patients.
Professor Bliss is currently involved in a number of breast cancer trials, which aim to improve different aspects of breast cancer treatment.
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Prof Charles Coombes
Department of OncologyImperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, LondonImproving treatment for breast cancer
Professor Charles Coombes is director of the Department of Oncology and heads the Section of Cancer Cell Biology at Hammersmith Hospital. He is working on new treatments for breast cancer.
Professor Coombes and his team are studying exactly how breast cancer cells respond to chemotherapy drugs by investigating key molecules in the cells. He is also developing and testing new breast cancer drugs in early stage clinical trials, as well as developing ways to monitor and treat breast cancers as they spread, particularly to the bone.
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Prof Sir Richard Peto
Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies UnitUniversity of Oxford, OxfordStudying smoking and cancer, and improving clinical trials
Eminent cancer researcher Professor Sir Richard Peto is co-director of the Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit in Oxford.
He is a leading figure in both the prevention and treatment of cancer, and helped to run a pioneering 50-year long study that furrher established the links between smoking and cancer. Professor Sir Peto's work with Professor Sir Richard Doll on smoking has influenced the health policies of governments across the world and helped save thousands of lives.
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Prof Amanda Ramirez
Cancer Research UK London Psychosocial GroupSt. Thomas' Hospital, LondonPsychological and social aspects of cancer care
Professor Amanda Ramirez directs the Cancer Research UK London Psychosocial Group based at St Thomas' Hospital. Her research focuses on improving the mental wellbeing of both cancer patients and health professionals that provide cancer care. Her group is also carrying out a project to promote early detection of breast cancer to improve survival rates amongst older women with this disease.
