LBCA FY24 Strategic Plan Objectives

Note: Each goal is followed by the objective-focused activities that will be undertaken to achieve it.

Goals 1: Raise Awareness and Educate about ILC and Need for ILC Research

The objectives in FY 24 corresponding to LBCA Goal 1 include:

• Translating additional materials beyond what was translated in the previous fiscal year into 14+ languages in addition to Spanish and identifying mechanisms to effectively share LBCA’s translated materials with organizations that serve individuals who speak those languages,  providing real time translation services at any international meeting with patient advocates implemented, and providing recordings and developing and providing lay summaries of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)-specific research presented at major breast cancer conferences.

• Creating additional audio and video short movies/PSAs that convey critical information about ILC, including about the importance of clinical trial participation, and disseminating them. Expand social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter by increasing frequency of posting across these platforms.  Identifying additional strategies for disseminating LBCA materials about ILC and LBCA more broadly. Creating a PR campaign to raise awareness of ILC during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

• Creating another survey of individuals with ILC and analyzing and submitting the results to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Consortium for presentation and publication at the annual conference. 

• Complete email outreach campaign to all major breast cancer center identified contacts to introduce LBCA and the ILC resources for patients we have and/or can help them develop. Work with clinicians to develop curriculum about ILC for oncology department clinicians nationwide.

• Develop downloadable resource about ILC and imaging for individuals living with early stage or metastatic ILC.

Goal 2: Be the Go-to Source for ILC Research Findings and Information about ILC Treatment:

The objectives in FY 24 corresponding to LBCA goal 2 include:

• Regularly updating the ILC publications library and the Clinical Trials page on the LBCA website.

• Regularly updating the studies/publications highlighted on the LBCA webpage dedicated to showcasing the new research of the LBCA Scientific Advisory Board members.

• Ensuring that new ILC findings and studies are publicized via all of LBCA media platforms and private FB groups.

• Exploring mechanisms to enable SAB members to publish studies with open access.

Goal 3: Support ILC Patient Research Advocacy and Identify and Implement ILC-specific National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines

The objectives in FY 24 corresponding to this goal 3 include:

• Expanding the frequency of LBCA’s Advocate Chat webinar series.

• Expanding and publicizing to scientists LBCA’s registry of ILC patient advocates available to assist researchers.

• Collaborating with SAB members on writing a white paper on ILC-specific imaging or an ILC treatment topic.

• Provide travel funding scholarships for up to 20 ILC patient advocates to enable attendance at major breast cancer conferences and trainings using the established LBCA Travel Scholarship Programs.

• Initiate a letter writing campaign with patient advocates addressing NCCN to promote the dialogue of specific ILC treatment and to add to the patient guidelines patient resources section the URL for LBCA.

Goal 4: Build Alliances Among U.S. and International Breast Cancer Advocacy Organizations to Jointly Promote and Fund ILC research:

The objectives in FY 24 corresponding to this goal include:

• Assisting with the planning and implementation of the September 2023 ILC Symposium and with the planning and execution of the streamed ILC Symposium highlights webinar in October 2023.

• Engaging actively with the European Lobular Breast Cancer Coalition (ELBCC) on developing ILC Symposium and wrap up sessions and on ILC-focused committee work on standardizing ILC pathology.

• Collaborating with two or more breast cancer organizations to produce ILC-focused webinars.

• Identifying and sharing with SAB members new sources of ILC patient data and jointly determine ways to help increase access to them for analysis.

• Represent LBCA on the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Roundtable, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, the Tigerlily Race Alliance Roundtable, the SNMMI Patient Advocate Advisory Board, and the ASCO Conquer Cancer Council. Add one new collaboration in FY24.

• Fund at least one ILC-specific research grant solicitation in conjunction with a partner organization.

• Develop a collaborative ILC research initiative with SAB members and their respective cancer centers/labs and including other scientists with an ILC focus when effective. Examples might be developing a joint collaborative grant application to the Department of Defense (DoD) or adopting a mult-center data use agreement for analysis of ILC patients cohorts across many cancer centers world wide.

• Develop and implement at least one live stream webinar with ILC clinicians addressing ILC treatment topic(s).

• Work with international patient advocates to plan a virtual summit to address shared ILC treatment challenges or each country.

Goal 5: Promote and Fund ILC Research:

The objectives in FY 24 corresponding to this goal include:

• Continue to fund Early Investigator awards in partnership with ASCO and AACR.

• Pursue additional grant funding partnerships.