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THE BREAKTHROUGH BALL 11.12.22

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Our Mission

THIS IS THE FACE OF THE BREAKTHROUGH BOARD.

OUR NAME IS OUR MISSION.

We are a purpose-driven board with over 70 years of dedication to raising funds in support of breakthroughs in cancer research at UChicago Medicine. We invest in research programs with high potential to nurture discovery across a spectrum of innovation in cancer prevention, diagnostics, and treatment. Formerly the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Women’s Board, in 2021 we joined forces with the Cancer Research Foundation in recognition of our shared values and like-minded approach to strategically backing breakthrough cancer research initiatives at UChicago Medicine with strong potential to save lives. View our board roster here

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SEEDING BREAKTHROUGHS

Our celebrated fundraising events have raised over $8.5MM over the last six years alone in support of life-saving cancer research discovery at UChicago Medicine.
We take great pride in our strategic approach to cancer research investment. We work closely with UChicago Cancer Center leadership and cancer research advisors within the Cancer Research Foundation to identify innovative programs with high breakthrough promise; but without the critical level of funding needed to fuel discovery. This successful investment strategy has returned nearly 20 times our initial seed funding in incremental grants to support UChicago Medicine’s brilliant cancer researchers and scientists. Our work has helped to usher in the new era of cancer genetics, including discovery of the genetic basis of leukemia. We’ve sponsored innovative new strategies for bone marrow transplant. And we have funded exciting breakthroughs in chemotherapy hormone therapy, along with many other new life-saving cancer treatments.

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WHAT WE FUND

In our inaugural year as The Breakthrough Board, we raised over $1 million in support of life-saving cancer research discover at UChicago Medicine – adding to our $21 million total raised since our inception as the UCCRF Women’s Board over 70 years ago. 2022         $1,050,000
$50,000      Young Investigator Award
$150,000    Cancer Metabolomics Core Facility
$150,000    Ben May Department for Cancer Research
$125,000    Translational Groups of Research Excellence
$100,000    Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy
$100,000    Improving Quality of Life and Outcomes for Head and Neck Cancer Patients
$100,000    Head and Neck Cancer Biomarker-driven HPV De-escalation Therapy
$100,000    Identification of Solid Tumor Target for Women’s Cancer
$100,000    Head and Neck Cancer ATRA Enhances Effects of Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy
$75,000      Community Impact-Cervical Cancer This substantial donation is made possible because of the extraordinary generosity and support of our friends and donors. View our funding history here