New England-based BCRF investigators will share insights and updates on breast cancer research
On Friday, November 6, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) will host the Boston Hot Pink Breakfast and Symposium as part of its annual fall programming.
The symposium will feature a panel discussion with BCRF researchers Drs. Beth Mittendorf (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Eric Winer (Yale School of Medicine), moderated by Boston Globe journalist and podcast host Shirley Leung. Drs. Mittendorf and Winer will discuss their research on AI-powered tools to more effectively screen for breast cancer risk and identify abnormalities.
This year, BCRF is awarding grants to 43 scientists from New England, and has collectively invested over $144 million in breast cancer research in the region. But our work is not done; we’re committed to turning one in eight to none in eight.
Read on to learn more about our panelists.
Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, MA
Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD, MHCM is an internationally recognized breast surgical oncologist, physician-scientist, and academic leader. She is a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, chief of breast surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and chief of multi-disciplinary oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Mittendorf’s research has focused on breast tumor immunology and immunotherapy. Her group was the first in the United States to report PD-L1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer, contributing to a series of clinical trials that helped establish immune checkpoint inhibitors as a standard component of breast cancer treatment. Her current research focuses on improving cancer care delivery and leveraging artificial intelligence to advance personalized care. This includes applying AI to pathology slides to predict treatment response and disease recurrence, as well as BCRF-supported research investigating AI-based mammographic assessment to improve breast cancer risk prediction. Dr. Mittendorf currently serves as president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for 2026–2027. Her presidential theme, “Intentional Teams. Exceptional Care,” emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork, intentional leadership, and resilient, high-performing teams in delivering exceptional cancer care.
About their BCRF research: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death in young women, yet current screening strategies rely heavily on age and family history. As a result, many women who develop breast cancer before age 40 are never recognized as being at increased risk. AI-based image analysis can identify subtle patterns that may predict a woman’s future breast cancer risk years before any cancer becomes apparent. Dr. Mittendorf is applying Clairity Breast, the first FDA-authorized AI platform designed to estimate five-year breast cancer risk from standard mammographic images, to determine whether this technology can identify elevated risk in younger women that conventional clinical models would otherwise miss. Next, Dr. Mittendorf will lead a prospective study enrolling 1,000 women ages 35-40 who do not have a known hereditary breast cancer syndrome or a strong family history of the disease. If successful, this research could help redefine breast cancer prevention and early detection by enabling more personalized, biologically informed screening strategies for younger women who fall outside the reach of current risk models.
Dr. Eric P. Winer
Yale School of Medicine
New Haven, CT
Eric P. Winer, MD is director of Yale Cancer Center and president and physician-in-chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital. He is also the Alfred Gilman professor of medicine and deputy dean for cancer research at Yale School of Medicine. An internationally recognized expert in breast cancer, Dr. Winer has played a leading role in many clinical trials that changed the care of individuals with all stages and subtypes of the disease. He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed research articles and has received numerous awards for his contributions to breast cancer research and mentorship. Dr. Winer served as president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology from 2022-2023 and chair of its Board of Directors from 2023-2024. He currently chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and has held leadership roles with the National Cancer Institute, Susan G. Komen, and CALGB/Alliance. An alumnus of Yale College and Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Winer returned to Yale in 2022 after more than two decades at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. At DFCI, he led the breast cancer group, directed the Dana-Farber/Harvard SPORE in Breast Cancer for over a decade, and served the institute in a variety of leadership roles.
About their BCRF research: Breast cancer screening in older women often identifies abnormalities that may never become life-threatening, yet most women still undergo treatments that can cause pain, anxiety, complications, and functional decline. Current screening approaches do not adequately distinguish aggressive cancers from slow-growing lesions that could safely be monitored rather than unnecessarily treated in ways that can reduce quality of life. Dr. Winer’s research aims to develop a new, less invasive approach to managing suspicious breast findings in women aged 70 and older by combining artificial intelligence (AI) with active surveillance. This work builds on the team’s earlier development and validation of an AI-based imaging tool capable of identifying slow-growing, hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancers on mammography with greater than 90% specificity, including strong performance in women over age 70. Next, Dr. Winer will conduct a pilot phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate whether an AI-guided surveillance strategy is acceptable to patients, feasible to implement in clinical practice, and safe compared to standard care. By testing whether AI can help identify women who can safely avoid invasive procedures, this project aims to move toward more personalized breast cancer care and reduce unnecessary treatment for older women.
Shirley Leung
Moderator
Shirley Leung is an award-winning columnist for The Boston Globe, covering the intersection of business and politics. She co-authors the Globe’s subscriber-only newsletter, Power Play, co-hosts the Globe Opinion podcast “Say More,” and is a regular contributor to GBH’s Boston Public Radio. A former Globe business editor and interim editorial page editor, she has been named one of Boston Magazine’s “150 Most Influential Bostonians.” Before joining the Globe, she was a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. A Princeton University graduate, she began her career at The Baltimore Sun. She is a breast cancer survivor, treated at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Listen to a “Say More” podcast episode about her experience with cancer here.
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