DALLAS– Susan G. Komen, the nation’s leading breast cancer nonprofit, has announced a major $10.8 million investment in breast cancer research, funding 25 new projects across 17 institutions. The funding aims to address some of the most urgent challenges in breast cancer care, with a focus on metastatic disease, precision medicine, and health equity.
The grants arrive amid rising research costs and funding uncertainties, making Komen’s investment a significant step toward delivering more effective and personalized treatment options to patients.
“This is about driving lifesaving research forward, especially for patients facing the most aggressive and deadly forms of breast cancer,” said Paula Schneider, President and CEO of Susan G. Komen. “We’re funding work that not only advances science, but also brings real hope to patients and families.”
More than half of the newly announced funding — approximately 54% — will support research into metastatic breast cancer, the advanced stage of the disease responsible for nearly 43,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Half of the grants are directed toward precision medicine approaches, aiming to tailor treatments based on each patient’s individual biology. Around 21% of the funds will support work addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities in outcomes and access to care.
The 2025 grant cohort includes 10 early-career investigators, a nod to Komen’s emphasis on cultivating the next generation of leaders in oncology research. The organization remains the largest breast cancer research funder outside the U.S. government, having invested nearly $1.1 billion since its inception.
Dr. Ann Partridge, Chief Scientific Advisor for Komen, emphasized the urgency of the work ahead: “We’re supporting research that is both scientifically rigorous and deeply patient-focused. This funding comes at a critical time as we continue to seek treatments that reflect the complexity of the disease and the diversity of the people it affects.”
Among this year’s recipients are prominent cancer researchers such as Dr. Alan Ashworth of the University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Christina Curtis of Stanford University. The grants span a wide range of institutions, including Dana-Farber, Yale, Vanderbilt, and Columbia, reflecting a national effort to accelerate breakthroughs in treatment and care.
In addition to traditional research grants, Komen is investing in advocacy and patient engagement initiatives through its REACH (Research Education and Advocate Community Hub) program. This initiative encourages survivors and co-survivors to contribute to the scientific process, helping ensure that research priorities reflect patient needs. Komen’s ShareforCures® registry further supports this mission by offering patients a secure way to share their health data for research purposes.
Dr. Jennifer Pietenpol, another Chief Scientific Advisor for Komen, said the organization’s support for young scientists is particularly important. “These early-career grants create an environment where bold, out-of-the-box ideas can flourish. That’s how breakthroughs happen.”
As breast cancer continues to affect hundreds of thousands of people each year in the U.S. alone, Komen’s continued investment in science, advocacy, and equity underscores its broader mission: ensuring that patients not only survive but thrive.
“Science is our strongest weapon in the fight against breast cancer,” said Schneider. “And we’re not backing down.”
Institutions Receiving Funding Include:
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Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
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Columbia University Irving Medical Center
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Stanford University School of Medicine
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University of California, San Francisco
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Yale University
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Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
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Baylor College of Medicine
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Johns Hopkins University
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Indiana University
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Georgetown University
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H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
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The Rockefeller University
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University of Pittsburgh
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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University of Washington in St. Louis
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Cornell University Weill Medical College
