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Breast Cancer Research

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University is a leader in breast cancer research. Find out how you can benefit from our groundbreaking clinical trials.

Researching Breast Cancer Developing Novel Therapies at Winship

Breast cancer has one of the highest survival rates of any cancer, topping 90% on average. That’s thanks, in part, to research that has informed the latest breast cancer screening guidelines and the newest treatment options. Research that’s being done right here at Winship — research you can be a part of.

Types of Breast Cancer Research

Research is necessary for the development of new cancer treatments. But it also lets us better understand the disease and how to effectively and completely diagnose it. Winship breast cancer researchers and scientists are changing how the world prevents, detects, diagnoses, treats and survives breast cancer. We pioneer discoveries in the lab that are translated into the latest, most effective treatments in the clinic.

Our bench-to-bedside research in breast cancer enables us to discover, develop and deliver game-changing procedures, technologies, diagnostics and treatments. As a result, Winship is advancing breast cancer research in every area, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, symptom reduction, quality of life, and more. Research pioneered right here at Winship helped determine chemotherapy’s role in the treatment of breast cancer. We were able to establish guidelines around which breast cancers are most responsive to chemotherapy and which ones can be cured without chemotherapy, thus sparing patients what can be a highly toxic treatment unless it’s necessary.

We also conduct what is called outcomes research, which involves analyzing massive amounts of data to identify which treatments work and which don’t for various types of breast cancer in patients across the country. We then use the data we gather to inform our treatment decisions.

Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

In addition to standard therapy, many Winship patients with breast cancer are eligible to participate in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are controlled studies that test new interventions on a disease, such as breast cancer. They offer participants early access to novel treatments that are not yet commercially available.

Participating in Breast Cancer Research

Clinical trials are the third step of a five-step process for testing new therapies as outlined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). By the time a therapy comes to clinical trial, it has been tested in a laboratory setting and has passed preclinical safety standards.

As a research center, our physicians will make every effort to match you with a clinical trial that targets your unique cancer. It’s best if you enroll from the beginning, so let your doctor know on your first visit if you’re interested in learning more about a clinical trial. Most clinical trials are supplemental, meaning you’ll still receive the standard therapy in addition to any treatment being studied.

Support for Clinical Trial Participation

Winship conducts lung cancer research at the following locations:

We welcome trial participants from all over Georgia and beyond. Talk with your doctor about whether you are eligible to participate in a clinical trial. Our supportive oncology team can assist you with services, such as finding affordable accommodations near Winship for the duration of your clinical trial.