Member News

Rochester, NY – The Breast Cancer Coalition is pleased to announce that the 2026-2027 grant season of its yearly Breast Cancer Research Initiative is currently seeking requests for proposals. The Coalition is soliciting proposals for two grants:

• The Sylvia Cappellino Breast Cancer Research Faculty Grant - $50,000
• The Pamela Delp Polashenski M.D. Breast Cancer Research Trainee Grant - $25,000

Researchers affiliated with for-profit and non-profit institutions in New York State are welcome to apply.

Since 2003, the Coalition has awarded grants to fund innovative projects with the potential to yield significant medical breakthroughs in the cause and prevention of breast cancer, prevention of metastasis, and cure. To date, the Coalition has awarded $1,226,125 in funds for breast cancer research.

The Coalition’s Research Initiative is the only one of its kind in New York State, with a diverse Research Advisory Board comprised of researchers, scientists, clinicians, and importantly, survivor advocates.

As Christina Thompson, Executive Director of the Breast Cancer Coalition, explains, “Survivor advocates bring lived experience that strengthens research by ensuring studies reflect the real needs, priorities, and concerns of those directly impacted by a diagnosis. Their involvement promotes meaningful, patient-centered outcomes and helps guide research toward discoveries that truly improve quality of life and care.”

Alexis S. has been involved as a survivor advocate on the Coalition’s Research Committee and Research Advisory Board for several years. She participates annually in the Coalition’s Research Review Day to help determine which grants receive funding.

“It is so rewarding to be a part of a group of advocates and scientists that are coming together to fund projects that can both directly impact patient lives and outcomes as well as further our understanding of how breast cancer works,” said Alexis. “It is truly a collaborative process, and as a survivor, my lived experience is taken seriously when reviewing grants.”

Dr. Ajay Dhakal received the Sylvia Cappellino Breast Cancer Research Faculty Grant in June 2025. As a medical oncologist at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, he studies triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that has fewer treatment options.

“Triple negative breast cancer has a high risk of spreading to the brain,” reported Dr. Dhakal. “The [Coalition’s] grant has enabled me to start investigating the pathological and genomic features in the triple negative breast cancers that would predict the spread to the brain among cancer survivors.”

He went on to explain that the results of his Coalition-funded research may help him launch a larger research study for further investigation into identifying those at higher risk for developing brain metastasis.

Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF form by 5:00 PM on Monday, March 2, 2025. In addition, 6 hard copies of the proposal must be received by the Coalition by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2025. Applicants will be notified by May 29, 2025. The Grant Award Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2025.

For more information about the Breast Cancer Coalition’s Research Initiative, visit bccr.org/research or email Silvia Gambacorta-Hoffman, Research Administrator, at silvia@bccr.org.