Corey Speers, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair, Merle M. Salter Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, has been named an Investigator with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). This honor recognizes his leadership and innovative work to improve treatments for aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of breast cancer.
“It’s an incredible honor and a privilege to be supported by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, one of the most impactful organizations in cancer research,” said Speers. “Thanks to BCRF’s unwavering commitment and investment in science, breast cancer deaths have dropped by more than 40 percent over the past 35 years. Their support makes discoveries like ours possible. With this award, we’re working to make radiation therapy even more effective by combining it with immunotherapy to help the body’s own immune system fight cancer. Together, we’re giving patients more hope and better outcomes than ever before.”
Each year, BCRF’s Scientific Leadership Group selects its Annual Investigator Award recipients to support leading researchers in the field of breast cancer. The program is invitation-only, with investigators invited to submit proposals based on their research accomplishments and demonstrated or potential impact in advancing breast cancer science and reducing the disease burden.
Speers leads a translational research program focused on advancing care for patients with the most challenging breast cancer subtypes. His lab studies how to make tumors more responsive to radiation therapy, develops genomic tools to predict which patients will benefit most, and explores new therapeutic strategies to reduce recurrence and improve survival.
The BCRF Investigator Award provides support to accelerate research that has the potential to shape future clinical practice. For Speers, it reflects both recognition of his achievements and a commitment to advancing his next phase of work, bringing laboratory discoveries closer to the clinic for patients with limited treatment options.
Through this award, Speers and his team will continue pushing the boundaries of radiation oncology and breast cancer research. Their work aims to personalize radiation therapy, enhance treatment effectiveness through synergistic immuno-radiation approaches, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients facing the most aggressive forms of the disease.
This recognition marks a significant milestone in Speers’ career and strengthens his partnership with BCRF in their shared mission to eradicate breast cancer. Read more about the BCRF, this award, and Speers’ work.