Discretionary Funding

Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) encourages development of investigator-initiated trials. The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) evaluates, selects and recommends new trial proposals based on scientific merit and the requirements of the broader BCT membership.

To date, the SAC, Craft Group Leads and associated Working Groups assist investigators in refining and developing concept proposals initiated by BCT members. Ultimately, many of these proposals are presented to SAC for consideration as future BCT clinical trials.

BCT provides opportunities for its members to apply for Discretionary Funding to support small scale research studies such as pilot studies that have the potential to lead to BCT-coordinated trials. Discretionary Funding is provided by public donations made to BCT. Guidelines for Discretionary Expenditure of Accumulated Funds and the Concept Proposal Form are available on the Research Section of the BCT website.

New Discretionary Funding Projects Awarded:

• Dr Mahesh Iddawela: Study invesTigating the role of routine screening and mOlecular characterisation of bRain metastasis in the management of high-risk Metastatic breast cancer (STORM).

Projects/Concepts in Development:

• Dr Wanda Cui: Ovarian Function Sub-study Proposal for OlympiA Trial: Does post (neo) adjuvant Olaparib impact ovarian function?

The status of previously awarded Discretionary Funding projects is:

Ongoing:

• Dr Antonia Pearson/Dr Belinda Kiely: OVGUS – A phase II study to determine the feasibility of using oestradiol vaginal tablets to treat genitourinary symptoms in women on adjuvant aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer.
• Dr Richard Isaacs/Dr Navin Wewala: A phase II, randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled, crossover trial to assess Pantoprazole’s effectiveness as prophylaxis against delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy (PantoCIN).
• Dr Yoland Antill: The timeline and quality of life implications of madarosis in patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy for breast malignancy.

Completed/Final Report Pending:

• Dr Wanda Cui: Exploring the barriers and facilitators of ovarian function assessment in breast cancer clinical trials.
• Prof Bruce Mann: Economic evaluation of ANZ1002 PROSPECT.
• Dr Yoland Antill: Treatment of vaginal atrophy using fractional microablative CO2 laser in post-menopausal women with breast cancer on aromatase inhibitors: a pilot study.
• Prof Tomas Kron: Deep Inhalation Breath Hold for reduction of cardiac toxicity in patients with left sided breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.