LBCA was founded by patient advocates who wanted to amplify the need for more recognition and discussion of this breast cancer type in the breast cancer world, and who sought to ensure breast cancer researchers everywhere are aware of the great lack of knowledge about this breast type and encourage them to study it. To this end, the founding members of the organization committed to support advocates to “be at the table” where breast cancer research was being presented and discussed, and where decisions were being made about funding for new breast cancer research. Thus was born the travel scholarship program for patient advocates to attend the first international ILC symposium. After this early meeting was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as LBCA has evolved, a travel grant program has continued to operate, supporting advocates interested in ILC education and research to attend conferences, trainings and meetings in the breast cancer / cancer conference space since 2022.

Vision/Goals for Travel Grant Program
With the inclusion of patient advocates in the research funding process (both as partners with researchers and as grant reviewers), it is important for advocates to have exposure to learning opportunities about breast cancer science, research advances, and the research process in general. Breast cancer science training programs led by the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) as well as professional, scientific conferences and meetings are excellent opportunities for exposure to this content and for patient advocates to meet investigators interested in lobular breast cancer research. It is also important for patient advocates to attend conferences focusing on breast cancer sciences and LBCA encourages patients diagnosed with lobular breast cancer to be the voices in the room asking the questions about how research may (or may not) impact patients diagnosed with different types of breast cancer, particularly lobular breast cancer. Conferences also provide great opportunities for lobular breast cancer patient advocates to join others from around the US and world to network, make connections, and strategize about more ways to spread the word about the needs of the lobular breast cancer community.

Who Should Apply
Anyone who has had a lobular breast cancer diagnosis or is living with a lobular breast cancer diagnosis who has a desire to raise awareness of ILC is welcome to apply. Please see the eligibility criteria below for more detailed information.

LBCA Advocate Travel Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have had a lobular breast cancer diagnosis or be living with a lobular breast cancer diagnosis.
• Applicants must have an interest in some form of educational or research advocacy related to ILC currently or in the future. Patient advocates collaborate with scientists to ensure the patient perspective is included in research and provide support to the ILC community.
  • LBCA will seek to understand each applicant’s goals–What do they hope to learn? How do they plan to use their experience, how will they become engaged with the organization or other ILC educational advocacy activities?
• Applicants must demonstrate an interest in learning about ILC (this may include activities such as attending meetings, trainings, watching educational webinars from LBCA, subscribing to the LBCA newsletter, etc.) AND have an intention to engage in some form of education advocacy about lobular breast cancer. It is the expectation that applicants who have attended conferences in the past will explain their plans to use the experience to engage in advocacy with (or for) others with ILC in the future.

Requests of Grantees (before, during, and after the event)

• Grantees will be sent a grantee agreement letter via Docusign.
• If LBCA has a booth or table at an event, grantees will be given the option to support the table for a 1-2 hour shift if possible.
• After the event, grantees will submit a 1 page write up of their experience at the event and send a photo of themselves in front of any event signage with consent that these may be shared on the LBCA website and social media. LBCA uses the write ups and photos to publicize the travel grant program and help others considering conference attendance to better understand what it is like to attend such an event. LBCA will provide an outline for the write up.

What Support Can LBCA Provide to Grant Recipients (before and after participation)

• LBCA has developed a number of training materials that are recommended for viewing before attending an event.
• LBCA will host a virtual pre-event meeting where staff or advocate mentors will provide helpful tips for attending a scientific conference.
• LBCA may provide informal mentorship for new attendees–by matching experienced mentors with newer advocates (depending on the conference).
• When possible, LBCA will host special networking or educational events during the conference (e.g., breakfasts or dinners for attendees), and for conferences at which there will be several advocates and LBCA staff, LBCA will convene a special “meet-up” on the first day of the event to answer questions advocate attendees may have.