Susan G. Komen has announced thirty grants totaling $14 million in support of research aimed at eliminating disparities in breast cancer outcomes and better detecting and treating stage IV (metastatic) breast cancer.

The funding will help support leaders in the field of breast cancer research; develop the next generation of researchers to lead the field; improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of metastatic breast cancer; and address disparities in breast cancer care and outcomes.

Grants were awarded through a number of programs, including the Komen Scholars program; the Career Catalyst awards for efforts focused on utilizing liquid biopsies to improve treatment, detection, and understanding of metastatic breast cancer; and Komen's TREND (Training Researchers to Eliminate Disparities) program, which awarded grants to the University of Chicago, Ohio State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in support of the training and career development of young researchers from diverse backgrounds who are looking to dedicate their careers to understanding and eliminating disparities in breast cancer care and outcomes.

Komen also provided support to the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC), a collaboration of nineteen top U.S. academic medical centers that conducts high-impact clinical trials and translational research projects; the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS), which seeks to understand the complex interactions of "biology and access" that contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes; and Yale University's Jennifer Miller, who will lead an effort to build and pilot a new tool designed to improve transparency and representativeness of U.S. patients in breast cancer clinical trials.

"We are extremely proud to be able to continue our legacy of leading investments in breast cancer research, especially in light of the challenges all nonprofits faced raising funds during this pandemic year," said Paula Schneider, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen and a breast cancer survivor. "This investment reinforces our commitment to funding innovative science from some of the leading minds in breast cancer research while also developing the next generation of scientists at a time when we have never needed them more."