Susan G. Komen, the breast cancer organization headquartered in Dallas, is awarding $10.8 million in a new round of research grants aimed at improving outcomes for people facing the disease now and in the future.

The latest funding supports 25 research projects at 17 institutions across the country, with more than half targeting metastatic breast cancer, the most advanced and deadly form of the disease. Several projects also focus on precision medicine and addressing disparities in care.

In Texas, two of this year’s grants were awarded to scientists at Baylor College of Medicine.

“We are proud to support these exceptional researchers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in breast cancer science,” Komen President and CEO Paula Schneider said in a statement. “Research saves lives, and now more than ever, we must invest in science that brings hope to patients—especially those facing the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.”

Komen said the grants are part of a broader strategy to tackle the most pressing challenges for patients: halting the spread of cancer, personalizing treatment to an individual’s biology, and closing the gaps in care that disproportionately affect underserved communities.

Per Komen, here’s a breakdown of its 2025 research investment:

• 54% of funding targets metastatic breast cancer—the most advanced stage of the disease, responsible for the nearly 43,000 deaths each year in the U.S.
• 50% focused on precision medicine to tailor treatments to each patient’s unique biology.
• 21% invested in addressing disparities to eliminate inequities in breast cancer care and outcomes.
• 25 researchers funded, including 10 early-career investigators, representing the next generation of scientific leaders.

Komen Chief Scientific Advisor Ann Partridge called the new investment timely and strategic. “By fueling science that is both innovative and inclusive, we’re accelerating progress where patients need it most—while building a foundation for individualized care for all,” she said in a statement.

‘Accelerating our path toward the cures’

Komen said it is the largest nonprofit funder of breast cancer research outside the U.S. government, investing roughly $1.1 billion since its inception. Komen’s work is powered entirely by individual donors, corporate partners, and community supporters.

Jennifer A. Pietenpol, chief scientific and strategy officer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and a member of Komen’s advisory board, said supporting early-career scientists is key. “Komen’s commitment cultivates a vibrant ecosystem where bold ideas and pioneering research can thrive,” she said, “accelerating our path toward the cures we urgently seek.”

The organization said it’s also working to bring lived experiences into the research process. Through its REACH (Research Education and Advocate Community Hub) initiative, Komen invites patients, survivors, and co-survivors to serve as research advocates. Its ShareforCures® registry gives patients and survivors a secure way to contribute their health data to research.

Komen said the need for collaboration between scientists, clinicians, advocates, and patients has never been greater.

Grants awarded

Recipients of Career Catalyst Research Grants

• Chun-Kan Chen, PhD, MS, Washington University in St. Louis
• Miriam Jacobs, MD, Georgetown University
• Martina Molgora, PhD, MSc., H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Inc.
• Daniel O’Neil, MD, MPH, Yale University
• Claire Sathe, MD, JD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
• Na Zhao, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine

Recipients of Career Transition Awards

• Charles Dai, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Avantika Gupta, PhD, MSc, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
• Alissa Michel, MD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
• Veena Padmanaban, PhD, MS, The Rockefeller University

Recipients of Leadership Grants

• Alan Ashworth, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
• Tuya Pal, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Rulla Tamimi, ScD, MS, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
• Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Christina Curtis, PhD, MSc, Stanford University School of Medicine
• Jeffrey Rosen, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine
• Tracy Battaglia, MD, Yale University
• Allison Kurian, MD, MSc, Stanford University School of Medicine
• Nancy Lin, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Recipients of Opportunity Grants

• Filipa Lynce, MD, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
• Michele Cote, PhD, MPH, Indiana University
• Antonio Wolff, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Recipient of Scientific Strategy and Programs Grant

• Adrian Lee, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed her sister’s life.

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