We’re committed to uniting the global breast cancer community behind common goals: making breast health a priority and reducing disparities in breast cancer outcomes worldwide. Since 2014, we’ve engaged partners around the world, assessed needs, identified priorities and defined a strategy to meet our goals.
We use a consensus-based approach and provide analytics, assessment and planning tools, educational materials and implementation science research methodology to empower regional champions to bring about change. By delivering evidence-based technical expertise and a resource-stratified approach, this initiative can improve breast health services and care at any resource level. Our team is inclusive and we encourage organizations, institutions and countries to connect and join the effort.
"Women in low- and middle-income countries deserve access to the breast cancer early detection and treatment services that could save their lives. It is only in working together with our global colleagues that we can reduce disparities and save the lives we can — and should — be saving. The American Cancer Society is a proud partner in this initiative."
— Ambassador Sally G. Cowal, Senior Vice President, Global Health, American Cancer Society
Our Strategy
We use a multifaceted approach in increasing breast health awareness and addressing global health disparities. From community outreach to planning, implementing and supporting locally-run programs, we tailor our efforts to the needs of the communities and cultures we work with.
Our situation analysis tools aid countries in assessing their needs and identifying bottlenecks in breast health care delivery. We also develop models to estimate the impact of providing early diagnosis and treatment interventions in different resource settings. These models assist in determining the most effective and appropriate interventions given the available resources.
We support innovation in addressing breast health care in low- and middle-income countries by linking partners and developing a library of case studies featuring innovative, evidence-based approaches to breast health care in different resource settings and facilitating their dissemination.
Our free, online information library features Knowledge Summaries, case studies and other educational resources, some available in non-English languages.
GloBAM is an interactive map linking data on breast cancer incidence and mortality, health spending, cancer policies and practices, and determinants of health, organized by country. It displays a wealth of data regarding breast cancer care worldwide and is vital to mapping health system resource levels, identifying gaps in breast health care and shaping resource-appropriate solutions.
Updates reflect new data releases from IARC, the World Bank, WHO, IHME and other sources. GloBAM is essential to producing informed situation analyses of breast health care systems and serves as a platform for tracking measurable outcomes.
In collaboration with partner countries or centers of excellence, we support baseline assessments and situation analyses through our self-assessment tools, GloBAM, stakeholder mapping, focus groups and other methods, as appropriate.
Through international forums, we partner and engage with multidisciplinary teams of policy makers, cancer center representatives, clinicians, advocates and other stakeholders to review their situation analyses. We use a collaborative process to support teams in developing resource-appropriate action plans that assist countries in decision-making, and outline next steps in implementing improvements in breast health care.
We develop modular online curriculum units based on the initiative tools. They’re available to advocates, policy makers and clinicians.
We work with partner organizations in multiple countries to implement evidence-based breast health care programs designed to scale for growing need. We also develop metrics and methodologies to evaluate plan implementation and assess systems-based outcomes.
"BCI2.5 is vital in our efforts to bridge the information gap between patients, providers, clinicians, policy makers and resource allocation. The strategy of multidisciplinary engagement is a powerful tool in building the capacity of advocates in this part of the world to develop innovative pathways to reduce breast cancer outcomes for 2.5 million women by 2025."
— Gertrude Nakigudde, Executive Director, Uganda Women's Cancer Support Organisation (UWOCASO)
This initiative is made possible through multiple organizations, government entities, and research centers, and funding agencies. Hundreds of dedicated individuals contribute to the efforts of eliminating breast health disparities worldwide. Learn more about the organizations that started our initiative, as well as those who keep it going to this day.
Since our initial pledge, BCI2.5 has engaged partners around the world, assessing need, identifying priorities, and defining a strategy to meet our goal. This consensus-based approach empowers regional champions to bring about change with the aid of our analytic, assessment, and planning tools, educational materials, and implementation science research methodology.
We recognize these organizations for their significant contributions and support of our program.
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Breast Health Global Initiative
Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
Harvard Global Equity Initiative
National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Women's Empowerment Cancer Advocacy Network (WE CAN)
The administrative arm of our global coalition is based at Fred Hutch, with experts from the Hutch, University of Washington, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and other local global health organizations serving as our secretariat.
Co-Chairs
Benjamin O. Anderson, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Chair and Director, Breast Health Global Initiative
Julie R. Gralow, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, American Society of Clinical Oncology
Staff
Catherine Duggan, Ph.D.
Director, Research and Implementation
Marisa Hartman
Administrator
Allison Dvaladze, M.P.H.
Director, Global Advocacy, Strategy and Partnerships