LEADERSHIP

Leadership Structure and Decision-Making 

LARC is led by Co-Chairs and an Executive Committee (EC), comprised of the founding members. The co-chairs and executive committee work together to provide overall scientific direction, governance, and resource stewardship.

 Leadership roles are on a term-basis with periodic turnover.

Co-Chairs

One basic scientist and one clinician from different sites guide the consortium’s vision, set priorities, and represent LARC externally.

They also ensure integration across scientific areas and maintain a collaborative, independent research environment. 

Rachel Jankowitz, MD

University of Pennsylvania

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine | Section Chief, Breast Medical Oncology | Medical Director, Rena Rowan Breast Center

Matthew J. Sikora, PhD

University of Colorado Anschutz

Associate Professor of Pathology

Executive Committee

The committee, along with the co-chairs, supports governance by reviewing proposals, shaping strategy, approving new projects and working groups, and allocating resources (e.g., data, biospecimens, and funding).

Suzanne Conzen, MD

University of Texas Southwestern

Professor of Internal Medicine | Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology

Julia Foldi, MD PhD

University of Pittsburgh

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Rita Mukhtar, MD

University of California San Francisco

Professor of Surgery | Program Director, Lobular Breast Cancer Research Program

Steffi Oesterreich, PhD

University of Pittsburgh

The Shear Family Foundation Chair in Breast Cancer Research | Professor, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Sherry Shen, MD

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Co-Lead, Lobular Breast Cancer Program | Assistant Attending, Breast Medicine Service

Jennifer Zhang, MD

University of Pennsylvania

Breast Surgical Oncology | Assistant Professor of Surgery

Partners & Advocate Engagement

Patient Advocates

LARC highly values the role of patient advocates in research. Members of the executive committee each have long-standing commitments to engagement with patient advocates, which informs LARC research.

To minimize redundancy with other such frameworks and to maintain independence in research development, LARC does not formally include advocates on the executive committee or in research consortium meetings.

How are patient advocates involved in LARC research?

For individual research projects and for specific grant development, LARC will partner with patient advocates and leverage our deep ties to the advocacy community.

Initial Project Development: Project leads will appoint patient advocate(s) from their sites or partner advocacy groups to participate in initial project development, and report out to these partners on at least a biannual basis. These ‘targeted’ (and rotational) roles for advocates will improve efficiency, and the effectiveness of LARC in integrating feedback.
Reporting and Information Sharing: Additionally, to connect broader LARC efforts with advocacy groups, LARC will report out research activities at regular forums including the ILC Symposium and SABCS, and use these opportunities to gain advocate feedback on programmatic activity.

Are you an Advocate Interested in Supporting LARC?

Patient advocates can indicate their interest in supporting a LARC project at our contact form.

Completion of prior advocate training programs (e.g. Project LEAD) and past experience with grant development is preferred for project advocate roles.

Looking for More Information about Support for Patients and Advocates?

ILC information and support for patients and advocates can be found at the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA).

Great Lakes Breast Cancer ILC Consortium

LARC is joined by the Great Lakes Breast Cancer ILC Consortium, established by Daniel Stover, MD, Ruth Keri, PhD, and Steffi Oesterreich, PhD.

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