Ibc Network Foundation

THE IBC NETWORK FOUNDATION FUNDS INFLAMATORY BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND GIVES PROACTIVE EDUCATION.

THE IBC NETWORK FOUNDATION IS INTENSELY FOCUSED ON FUNDING HIGH-QUALITY RESEARCH ON INFLAMMATORY AND TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER. INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER IS AN ORPHANED FORM OF BREAST CANCER DUE TO ITS RARENESS AND HIGH FATALITY RATE. UNFORTUNATELY, TYPICALLY STRIKING YOUNGER WOMEN, AT A LATE-STAGE PRESENTATION, 30% OF THE WOMEN ARE ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH TRIPLE NEGATIVE. THIS COMBINATION IS HIGHLY DIFFICULT TO TREAT SUCCESSFULLY. WE HAVE, IN 2022, FUNDED ONE ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECT, ONE CME, AN INTERNATIONAL IBC MEETING HOSTED BY MD ANDERSON IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND PROVIDED FUNDING TO HELP ESTABLISH AN IBC PROGRAM AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND OFFERED A MATCHING GRANT TO ONE MAJOR IBC CENTER. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS.THIS YEAR AT INGRID-VANDERBILT, WE HAVE COMPLETED THE FUNDING OF AN ONGOING PROJECT OF $100,000 FOR THE RESEARCHER JUSTIN BALKO AND HIS TEAM TO STUDY HOW TRIPLE-NEGATIVE AND IBC INTERRELATE. WE FUNDED $5,000 TO A CME CO-HOSTED BY BAYLOR MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER. WE FUNDED $20,000 FOR THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL IBC CONSORTIUM MEETING HOSTED AT MD ANDERSON. THIS RESEARCH MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY RESEARCHERS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL WORLDWIDE.WE FUNDED $60,000 TO THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY TO HELP ESTABLISH THE FIRST IBC PROGRAM IN OHIO. WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THIS EVENT, AS IT HAS BEEN A PROJECT FOR ALMOST 7 YEARS TO GET THIS PROGRAM STARTED. DUE TO IBC'S MISSION AND SUPPORT FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THERE ARE NOW 4 IBC SPECIALTY CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES.THIS YEAR WE OFFERED A MATCHING GRANT OF $5,000 TO MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER FOR THEIR BOOT WALK FOR THE IBC PROGRAM FOR THEIR INSTITUTION'S FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE.SINCE WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE PHYSICAL MEETINGS TO HELP ASSIST PATIENTS, WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING A SERIES OF ZOOM CALLS, ZOOM ACROSS THE USA, TO HELP PATIENTS LIVING WITH IBC BE BETTER CONNECTED TO THE BEST POSSIBLE RESEARCH AND CARE OPTIONS. HOWEVER, IN THE FALL OF 2022, WE HOSTED AN ULTIMATE MEET UP IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, A WEEKEND-LONG EVENT. THE EVENT WAS WELL RECEIVED. OVER 30 GUESTS ATTENDED, AND WE STARTED THE EVENT WITH A LAB TOUR AT VANDERBILT LED BY JUSTIN BALKO, PH.D. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE LAUNCHED A PODCAST CALLED "TALK IBC," INTERVIEWING PATIENTS, RESEARCHERS, MEDICAL PERSONNEL, COUNSELORS, AND OTHERS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO THOSE INTERESTED IN OUR MISSION.WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD TO HAVE COMPLETED THE DRAFTING OF THE COURSE FOR THE IBC LEARNING ACADEMY. THIS COURSE WAS WRITTEN IN COOPERATION WITH MD ANDERSON'S MORGAN WELCH CLINIC FOR INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER. THE COURSE WAS OFFERED IN REAL-TIME AND IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR INTERESTED PARTIES WORLDWIDE. THE COURSE IS PROVIDED AT NO COST. IT IS KNOWN THAT RARE DISEASE ADVOCACY CAN IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES WHILE BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN PATIENTS/CAREGIVERS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. OUR GOAL IS TO REACH A DIVERSE TARGET AUDIENCE OF PATIENTS AND PROFESSIONALS WITH A PASSION FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY IBC. TRAINED ADVOCATES WILL BE EMPOWERED TO PROMOTE THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF IBC PATIENTS BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO SPECIALTY CARE, INCREASING EDUCATION AROUND CLINICAL TRIALS, AND PARTICIPATING IN LOBBYING. ADVOCATES MAY ALSO SERVE ON DECISION-MAKING BOARDS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES, AND INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARDS. WE HAVE HAD OVER 50 PEOPLE COMPLETE THE COURSE.