Dr. Otto Metzger Appointed Chair while Dr. Maxine Jochelson, Dr. Megan Kruse, and Dr. Rebecca Riggins Named New Members

February 17, 2021 – The Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA) announced today that Dr. Otto Metzger has been named chair of its Scientific Advisory Board. The LBCA also appointed Dr. Maxine Jochelson, Dr. Megan Kruse, and Dr. Rebecca Riggins to board membership.

As the only organization in the U.S. dedicated to raising awareness about invasive lobular breast cancer and promoting research, the LBCA envisions a world in which lobular breast cancer is found early, treated effectively, and eradicated permanently.

In his new role as chair, Metzger will lead LBCA’s Scientific Advisory Board, a group of esteemed clinicians, pathologists, radiologists, and scientists with ILC expertise. Serving as LBCA ambassadors in the scientific community, the board provides strategic guidance and assistance with the implementation of LBCA’s planned research advocacy, ILC education, and funding activities. The board also ensures all information developed and shared by the LBCA is current, relevant, and accurate. Metzger has been a member of the board since its inception. He takes over for Dr. Steffi Oesterreich, the founding chair who has served in this position since the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance was launched in 2017.

Metzger is a breast oncologist at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center. He is a clinical investigator focused on the development of therapies for breast cancer treatment. His principal research effort is focused on investigating two subtypes of breast cancer: invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and HER2+ breast cancer. Metzger also maintains an active clinical practice in the Breast Oncology Center at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center.

“I am delighted to have been selected as a chair of the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance’s Scientific Advisory Board,” said Metzger. “This board is composed of distinguished leading academic investigators committed to supporting research and increasing awareness about lobular neoplasia. LBCA as an organization deserves a lot of credit for the increased awareness about ILC. I am committed to fostering a culture of engagement and collaboration between scientists and advocates with the unique goal of improving outcomes for patients diagnosed with ILC.”

In addition to its new leadership, the Scientific Advisory Board grows from 11 to 14 people with the addition of its three new members.

Jochelson is the Director of Imaging at the Evelyn Lauder Breast and Imaging Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she is an Attending Radiologist and a Clinical Professor of Radiology at Cornell Weill Medical School.

Commenting on her new role, Jochelson said, “As a breast imager who is extremely interested in the development of improved techniques for breast imaging and particularly screening, I am excited to join the Scientific Advisory Board of the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance. It is a rare opportunity to focus on this elusive disease, with the goal of improving our ability to detect these cancers at earlier time points leading to improved outcomes.”

Kruse is a breast medical oncologist at the Taussig Cancer Institute of Cleveland Clinic.  Her main area of clinical investigation is optimization of care for patients with lobular breast cancer with a special focus on the role of the immune microenvironment.

“I am honored to be joining the LBCA Scientific Advisory Board,” said Kruse. “It will be a unique opportunity to interact with other individuals that are passionate about improving the care for patients with ILC. I look forward to learning from these peers and to have an outlet in which we can work as a team to have a larger impact on this condition than any one of us could have individually.”

Riggins, who holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Virginia, is an Associate Professor of Oncology and Associate Director of Education and Training, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

She commented, “When I first began studying invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) as a postdoctoral fellow, it was a major challenge to convince publishers and funders that ILC was a unique form of breast cancer deserving of specific study. Over the years, the incredible tenacity of researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates has put ILC on the map. As a member of the LBCA Scientific Advisory Board, I will continue my advocacy for increased funding, greater visibility, and more accessible information about ILC.”

For more information contact Colleen Fitzwater, Communications Director at colleenfitzwater@lobularbreastcancer.org.

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About the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance. Founded in 2017 by patient advocates with ILC, the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance engages patients, clinicians, and researchers to increase knowledge of lobular breast disease and promote lobular breast cancer research. Working with the guidance of an international, expert scientific advisory board of breast cancer researchers and clinicians, patient advocate volunteers, and through growing collaborations with other breast cancer advocacy organizations, LBCA provides a platform for ILC research, maintains a library of current lobular breast cancer studies, and identifies clinical trials and ILC patient research advocacy opportunities with a focus on lobular breast disease.

Visit us at lobularbreastcancer.org.