Division of Breast Cancer Research
Interim Head of Division: Professor Clare Isacke
The Division of Breast Cancer Research, which incorporates the Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, contains over 150 scientists and clinicians working in 12 teams.
The priorities in the Division are the identification and characterisation of breast cancer susceptibility genes, the aetiology of breast cancer (predominantly via the Breakthrough Generations Study), improving the diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of response to treatment for breast cancer patients, and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. The goal is to translate these finding rapidly to the clinic.
To achieve this, the Division has strong links with other researchers and clinicians at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, as well as external collaborations with industry and other academic and clinical centres.
The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, which receives the majority of its funding from its parent charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, was opened in 1999 by Breakthrough's Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.
Cancer cells dying through the newly-discovered process of necroptosis. When the cells die in this way they lose their membrane integrity and take up red dye, turning them red.
