AACR Donors and Partners

TouchBBCA Website Launches

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive subtype of breast cancer that disproportionately impacts Black and Afro-Latina individuals, contributing to significant racial disparities in mortality rates. “Not much has changed on the internet since I was diagnosed with TNBC in 2011,” said Ricki Fairley, speaking of online resources for people with TNBC. Fairley is a breast cancer survivor and the CEO and co-founder of Touch, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance (TouchBBCA).

Searching TNBC online resulted in pages of dire statistics but no resources­—until just a few months ago. With generous grant funding from Gilead Sciences in collaboration with the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Association for Cancer Research® (AACR), and Nueva Vida, TouchBBCA launched BlackTNBCSanctuary.org. The online hub offers a comprehensive support system with vital information, resources, and community connections tailored to the needs of those navigating a TNBC diagnosis and their loved ones. The website is offered in both English and Spanish to serve the needs of all Black individuals diagnosed with TNBC, including Spanish-speaking Afro-Latinas.

With the input of more than 50 patients, survivors, and thrivers from nine focus groups, the Black TNBC Sanctuary was built from the lived experience of the Black and Afro-Latina community. “I felt a sense of community just being on the Zoom call with other women of color affected by TNBC,” said one participant. “Many of us discover information like this from different sources at different times of our journey. It is nice to finally have a resource about us to get all of the information that is crucial for us to know.” Rigorous scientific and medical review for the resource hub was provided by the AACR and an esteemed scientific advisory board of pre-eminent doctors who are experts in TNBC among Black women.

“The Black TNBC Sanctuary resource hub is not just a project; it’s a beacon of hope and a testament to our commitment to illuminate every journey with support, knowledge, and strength,” said Mitch Stoller, chief philanthropic officer and vice president of development at the AACR Foundation. This unprecedented project will undoubtedly benefit many people, and it would not have been possible without the true partnership and collaboration of the organizations involved in its creation.

Since its launch, the website has received more than 18,000 page views, with most viewers being new visitors. The resource has been shared by dozens of partners on social media, gaining thousands of views and interactions. Please visit BlackTNBCSanctuary.org to see this resource.

Empowering Women in Science

During the AACR Annual Meeting 2025, AACR-Women in Cancer Research (WICR) presented programs and activities for members and attendees. A highly interactive professional development workshop, “Women and Power—Building Personal Resilience and Responding Dynamically to Stressors Over Your Career Lifetime,” was among them. Sponsored by the Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers, in partnership with Pelotonia and the AACR, the four-hour workshop focused on leadership training for women in science at all stages of their careers, with an emphasis on strengthening connections to, and networking among, female colleagues. Through small group exercises, attendees learned how to build and maintain personal resilience, identify external and internal stressors, and become empowered to drive positive change to enhance their mental and physical well-being. The workshop was led by hfp consulting, a globally recognized firm that specializes in career development and leadership training exclusively for scientists.

Participants found the program valuable for their careers, citing that it was “insightful,” “a fantastic way to self-reflect,” “uplifting,” and “empowering.” One participant said, “They opened my eyes to actually appreciate how far I have come and inspired me to keep pushing forward.”

The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers was established in 2021 to accelerate innovation in cancer research for women, by women. Through a collaborative partnership with Pelotonia and the AACR as scientific partner, the fund also offers grant programs for female researchers and clinicians working at various stages of their careers. The support provided through this partnership reflects the organizations’ commitment to supporting the professional development of female cancer researchers.