Initiatives & Research
Advancing Triple Negative Breast Cancer Research
An $25 million gift established the UNC Lineberger Center for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
While this gift was directed toward TNBC, the science it supports has the power to positively impact multiple kinds of cancer: breast and beyond.
Research Priorities
Progress in cancer care is continually dependent upon advancing research. When years of lab-based research touch patients through clinical trials, treatment possibilities can become realities.
Clinical trial results and patient feedback then circulate back to laboratories to help sculpt future research investigations. This interaction of science and clinical care is how new treatments come to be, and how both quality and quantity of life can remain top priority.
The following tiers were established as the inaugural areas of scientific investigation in the TNBC Center:
- Tier 1: Improving TNBC Treatment Innovation
- Tier 2: Improving Understanding of TNBC Tumor Biology & Characterization
- Tier 3: Improving our Understanding of the Impact of Nutrition & Obesity on TNBC Development and Progression
Breast Cancer Research at UNC Lineberger
The TNBC Center provides the foundation for research sustainability and fosters the next generation of scientific innovation. Many of our TNBC Center initiatives either provide the seed funding necessary for future federal grant support support, or are done in collaboration with NCI and other funders.
Learn more about the Breast Cancer Research SPORE at UNC Lineberger
Additionally Funded Efforts
A cancer diagnosis is particularly difficult in all ways for parents with children at home. This includes: the physical burden of cancer treatment which is particularly notable in TNBC, the emotional burden of explaining this to your children in an age-appropriate way, and sometimes even the legal and financial burden of planning for the future.
The PwCC offers psychological and counseling support services for parents and their children, in addition to legal and financial aid counseling for preparing home and life documents.
Learn more about the Parenting with Cancer Clinic
Meet the Team
Justin Yopp, PhD, leads the psychosocial support clinic for parents and their children.
He recently submitted a scientific paper for publication about an electronic support tool he and his team developed to help families communicate with their children about cancer.
The tool was celebrated for its impact in Yopp’s clinic, and is currently being prepared to launch for widespread use in attempt to reach those in need as quickly as possible.
Cindy Rogers, JD, an attorney who uses her legal expertise to guide patients and families to the right resources, offers support for completing the difficult and sometimes daunting legal documents essential to life and end of life care. These services are offered at no cost or minimal cost to families.
This important work includes creating wills to secure someone’s wishes following their passing, and financial and estate planning to structure how fiscal and property matters should be managed in the future.
Roger’s support is tremendous for patient welfare and offers families peace of mind and organization in light of stressful health situations.
The UNC Lineberger Cancer Research Professorship Challenge Fund was founded to spur support of multiple endowed professorships as part of the $25 million anonymous gift to the establish the UNC Lineberger Center for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
Named professorships are one of the highest honors a university bestows to a faculty member, and helps provide the resources to focus on innovations that are particularly relevant to TNBC.
Read about the named professorships established for UNC Lineberger’s Barbara Savoldo, MD, PhD, and Stephanie Wheeler, PhD, MPH.