Breast Cancer Research Foundation continues to fund Mayo Clinic oncologist's work

Thursday, October 18, 2001

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 18, 2001 — The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has awarded Dr. Edith Perez, an oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., a grant to fund breast cancer research. This is the second year of a three-year, $1 million grant. The grant supports Perez's research into treatments using the monoclonal antibody, Herceptin, and her genetic work as the basis for developing innovative diagnostic tests and better, more individualized therapies.

Perez was one of 48 people honored at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Sixth Annual Luncheon and Symposium in New York City on Oct. 4. "I'm very grateful that the Breast Cancer Research Foundation recognizes and supports our research," Perez says. "The Foundation's support means that we can continue our genetic work to improve therapy, and we can offer patients promising investigational treatments."

Perez is director of the Clinical Cancer Research Study Unit and director of the Breast Cancer Program at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. She also chairs the Breast Committee of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, one of the National Cancer Institute's Clinical Trials Cooperative Groups.

Evelyn Lauder, of Estee Lauder Companies Inc., founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in 1993. It is the largest national organization dedicated solely to funding clinical and genetic research on breast cancer at outstanding medical centers across the country. This year the Foundation awarded $8.5 million in grants. To date, it has given nearly $30 million to support outstanding research nationwide.

Media contact: Erik Kaldor 904-953-2299 kaldor.erik@mayo.edu

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