- Mission [1]
- The Interagency Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Coordinating Committee (IBCERC) will share and coordinate information
on existing research activities and make recommendations to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other Federal agencies
regarding how to improve existing research programs that are related to breast cancer research. Secondly, IBCERC will develop
a comprehensive strategy and advise the NIH and other Federal agencies in the solicitation of proposals for collaborative,
multidisciplinary research, including proposals to evaluate environmental and genomic factors that may be related to the etiology
of breast cancer. This strategy will (a) result in innovative approaches to study emerging scientific opportunities or eliminate
knowledge gaps in research to improve the research portfolio, (b) outline key research questions, methodologies, and knowledge
gaps, (c) expand the number of research proposals that involve collaboration between two or more national research institutes
or national centers, including proposals for Common Fund research described in PHSA section 402(b)(7) to improve the research
portfolio, and (d) expand the number of collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and multi-institutional research grants. The Committee
will also develop a summary of advances in breast cancer research supported or conducted by Federal agencies relevant to the
diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer and other diseases and disorders. Not later than two years after the date of
the establishment of the Committee, IBCERC will make recommendations to the Secretary of the (DHHS). Such recommendations
will entail any appropriate changes to research activities, including recommendations to improve the research portfolio of
the NIH to ensure that scientifically-based strategic planning is implemented in support of research priorities that impact
breast cancer research activities. In addition, the recommendations will aim to ensure that the activities of the NIH and
other Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, are free of unnecessary duplication of effort. The recommendations
will also include public participation in decisions relating to breast cancer research to increase the involvement of patient
advocacy and community organizations representing a broad geographical area. The report will include how best to disseminate
information on breast cancer research progress and on how to expand partnerships between public entities, including Federal
agencies, and private entities to expand collaborative, cross-cutting research.
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