Awards & Recognition

2023 Recipients

Olufunmilayo F. Olopade, M.D., FAACR, FASCO, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her groundbreaking translational work in hereditary breast cancer and cancer risk assessment. As an international expert in cancer genetics and evolution across ancestral populations, she has significantly contributed to our understanding of early detection and prevention of breast cancer in high-risk women. Dr. Olopade has led pioneering work delineating risk factors and molecular pathways that define aggressive forms of breast cancer in women of African ancestry. Importantly, her foundational research on the mechanisms of familial breast cancer inheritance globally impacted breast cancer outcomes, in which she developed novel ethnic-specific genomic classifiers to advance screening and risk assessment, increasing access to personalized care within high-risk populations living in underserved communities. Learn more about Dr. Olopade here.

Daniel F. Hayes, M.D., FASCO, FACP, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his pioneering work in tumor biomarker discovery and experimental therapeutics. Dr. Hayes’s involvement in landmark therapeutic trials changed the way estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is treated, sparing a large subset of patients from overtreatment. Dr. Hayes’s leadership in establishing rigorous scientific processes to guide how tumor biomarkers are evaluated and implemented has prompted various impactful correlative studies, the results of which advanced our understanding of cancer therapeutic resistance. In addition, he has been instrumental in creating the guidelines for tumor biomarker tests, including some of the most widely used diagnostic biomarkers in clinical decision-making. Dr. Hayes’s remarkable body of work has altered the course of clinical research by providing new tools for clinical decision-making and has paved the way for continued diagnostic advancements that will improve care for people with breast cancer for many years to come. Learn more about Dr. Hayes here.

2022 Recipients

Geoffrey Wahl, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his significant contributions to the field of cancer genetics, including mechanisms of drug resistance and genome stability. Dr. Wahl’s groundbreaking research has led to a better understanding of the underlying cellular changes that influence the onset and progression of breast cancer cells and the pursuit of novel anti-cancer therapeutic agents. His pivotal studies regarding the cellular composition of the normal breast have illuminated our understanding of how cancer develops, paving the way for future discoveries in breast cancer research and treatment. Notably, his impact stretches far beyond the breast cancer field as he has developed cutting-edge laboratory technologies and tools that are now being used to accelerate molecular biology discoveries worldwide. Learn more about Dr. Wahl here.

Norman Wolmark, M.D., FACS, FRCSC, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of clinical care for breast cancer patients. His work has radically changed the clinical landscape by establishing practice-changing and patient-focused surgical procedures, including breast conserving surgery as the standard of care for breast cancer, eliminating the need for radical mastectomy and improving the quality of life for patients. In addition to his surgical work, Dr. Wolmark has directed numerous clinical trials that have directly shaped current breast cancer therapeutic options and led to drastic improvements in patient survival. In addition, Dr. Wolmark led the development of a landmark precision oncology genomic test that can predict response to therapy and the likelihood of tumor recurrence in certain patients, paving the way for the era of preventative and precision medicine. Learn more about Dr. Wolmark here.

2021 Recipients

Carlos Caldas, M.D., FACP, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Research for his significant contributions in the field of breast cancer genomics and taxonomy.  His work has advanced our understanding of the DNA and RNA compositions of human breast cancers, the genomic heterogeneity of breast cancers, and the relationships of a tumor’s characteristics to individual outcomes and responses to breast cancer treatment. This work helped define molecular subtypes (or groups) of breast cancer and identify the genomic changes that drive tumor growth which have provided critical insights to the biology of this disease. Learn more about Dr. Caldas here. 

Judy E. Garber, M.D., MPH, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for her trailblazing work and significant contributions in clinical cancer genetics that have shaped the care of people with breast cancer, their families and those at risk of breast cancer.  Her research is advancing our understanding of the role of BRCA1/2 gene mutations in breast cancer and the treatment and prevention of triple-negative breast cancer and other BRCA-associated cancers as well as providing a training ground for the next generation of cancer geneticists. Learn more about Dr. Garber here. 

2020 Recipients

Donald P. McDonnell, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science in recognition of his significant contributions to breast cancer research, which have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of estrogen receptor signaling in breast cancer. His research has resulted in critical insights into the structure, function and regulation of nuclear hormone receptors and is helping to lay the foundation for the development and clinical use of novel endocrine therapies to treat Estrogen Receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Read his bio here.

Laura Esserman, M.D., MBA, received the Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research in recognition of her seminal contributions in clinical research, which are paving the way towards more personalized approaches to breast cancer care.  She has led innovative clinical trial programs, notably the I-SPY trials, which have become models to accelerate the development of safe, effective, personalized treatment, detection and prevention options and improve the delivery of clinical care for breast cancer patients. Read her bio here. 

2019 Recipients

Jane Visvader, Ph.D. and Geoff Lindeman, MBBD, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Research for their significant contributions to breast cancer research, which have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of how normal and cancerous cells develop in the breast. Their research has resulted in critical insights about the regulation of normal breast cell growth, breast cancer initiation and progression, including the identification of breast stem cells which give rise to normal breast tissue and the breast cells that are predisposed to becoming cancerous in women with BRCA1 gene mutations. Read their bios here.

Matthew Ellis, B.Sc., M.B., B.Chir., Ph.D., FRCP, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his seminal contributions in understanding the genomics of breast cancer and translating this knowledge to the clinic in order to improve the efficacy of breast cancer treatment. His translational approaches to studying the genomic aspects of breast cancer, drug resistance and biomarkers for breast cancer prognosis, coupled with his pioneering research in the pre-surgical treatment of breast cancer, has led to the identification of tumor markers and implementation of new treatment regimens that are being increasingly used worldwide. Read his bio here.

2018 Recipients

Lisa M. Coussens, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Research for her significant contributions to breast cancer research, which have been essential in advancing our understanding of the role of the tumor microenvironment, particularly immune cells, in cancer development. Her research has established that immune cells can both enhance and inhibit tumor growth and identified critical immune-regulated pathways that can be targeted therapeutically to block or slow cancer development. Dr. Coussens’ work is helping to lay the foundation for development and clinical use of cancer immunotherapies that will significantly impact the future of breast cancer research and treatment. Read her full bio here.

Dr. Eric Winer, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his seminal contributions in improving the treatment of breast cancer, which have helped to shape the standard of care for breast cancer patients globally. Dr. Winer has devoted his career to applying the advances from clinical trials to daily practice to improve survival and quality of life for individuals with breast cancer. His accomplishments in breast cancer research and in the clinic have impacted treatment for all stages and all the major biologic subtypes of the disease and led to lasting impact on patient outcomes. Read his full bio here.

2017 Recipients

Alan Ashworth, Ph.D., F.R.S., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Sciences for his significant contributions to breast cancer research, including the discovery of the BRCA2 gene and his transformative work to apply the synthetic lethality concept to breast cancer, which led to a new approach to cancer treatment that exploits genetic weaknesses in BRCA mutated cancer cells. His strong focus on translating these research findings to the clinic has advanced the development of new treatments for breast, ovarian, and potentially other cancers, and had a major impact upon patient care.

Dennis J. Slamon, M.D., Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his significant contributions to breast cancer research, including his influential contributions in laboratory and clinical research that helped define the role of the HER2/neu gene in breast cancer and have laid the groundwork for the development of targeted therapies, including two drugs: trastuzumab, the first targeted therapy for HER2+ breast cancer, and palbociclib, a CDK 4/6 inhibitor used to treat ER+ breast cancer. His work has helped shape the standard of care for breast cancer and benefitted millions of breast cancer patients worldwide.

2016 Recipients

Charles Perou, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his significant contributions to breast cancer research, including the characterization of the diversity of breast tumors, which demonstrated that breast cancers can be classified into at least five intrinsic molecular subtypes and resulted in the discovery of the basal-like/triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype. His work has led to the understanding that breast cancer should be viewed as a set of characteristically-distinct subtypes, laying the foundation for using precision medicine in breast cancer.

Monica Morrow, M.D., FACS, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for her important contributions to the field of breast cancer surgery which have advanced less invasive surgical treatments and helped to shape the standard of care for breast cancer patients. Dr. Morrow has championed the concept of “more is not necessarily better” when it comes to breast cancer treatments, and has devoted her career to applying the advances from clinical trials to daily surgical practice to improve breast cancer patient care and quality of life.

2015 Recipients

Myles Brown, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his significant contributions to breast cancer research, which have been essential in understanding the role of steroid hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, and their receptors in normal physiology and the progression of breast cancer.

Martine J. Piccart, M.D., Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for her seminal contributions in improving the treatment of breast cancer, which have helped to shape the standard of care for breast cancer patients globally. Prof. Piccart has devoted her career to improving breast cancer patient care and expanding the understanding of breast cancer biology.

2014 Recipients

Joan S. Brugge, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her significant contributions to breast cancer research, which have been essential in advancing our understanding of the molecular and cell biology of breast cancer.

Mitch Dowsett, Ph.D., F.Med.Sci., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his seminal contributions in understanding the hormonal basis of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, and translating this knowledge to the clinic in order to improve the efficacy of treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

2013 Recipients

Gordon B. Mills, M.D., Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his significant contributions to breast cancer research, which have been essential to advancing our understanding of the key processes that drive breast cancer’s initiation, progression and response to therapy.

Edith A. Perez, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for her contributions to the field of breast cancer treatment – including her leadership of a wide range of translational clinical trials testing new therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer – which have helped to shape the standard of care for breast cancer patients globally.

2012 Recipients

Yosef Yarden, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his extensive contributions toward understanding the role of growth factors in cancer and laid the foundation for the development of cancer drugs that target growth factor receptors, particularly the HER2 receptor.

Hyman B. Muss, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his efforts that engaged the clinical community to address issues specific to elderly breast cancer patients, and has advanced the clinical care of this special population of patients. His work is improving the lives of countless women every year, and his impact on the breast cancer community will be felt for years to come.

2011 Recipients

Carlos L. Arteaga, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for characterizing the role of several key pathways in breast cancer, including pathways that are responsible for breast cancer cell growth, division, and metastasis. His research has been instrumental in helping to provide the rationale for several widely used breast cancer drug regimens including combining trastuzumab with chemotherapy and with gefitinib. He has also provided the basis for combining endocrine therapy with EGFR/HER2 inhibitors in patients with HER2+/ER+ breast cancer.

Armando E. Giuliano, M.D., FACS, FRCSEd, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his seminal work investigating the benefits of sentinel lymph node biopsy, and the reduced need for radical surgery in many breast cancer patients. Dr. Giuliano’s 30-year research career as a breast surgeon-scientist has been dedicated to reducing the short- and long-term side effects associated with breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

2010 Recipients

Jeffrey M. Rosen, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his pivotal laboratory work spanning more than 35 years that has focused on critical insights behind the fundamental mechanisms of mammary gland development as well as his most recent work with human breast cancer stem cells.

Soonmyung Paik, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his instrumental role in changing the biologic understanding of breast cancer and the development of a commercially available genomic method for estimating breast cancer risk of recurrence and the benefit from chemotherapy. This has had a tremendous clinical impact in the management of ER-positive breast cancer today. 

2009 Recipients

Geoffrey Greene, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for furthering our understanding of female steroid hormones and the molecular mechanisms by which they regulate development, differentiation and/or cellular proliferation and survival in hormone responsive tissues and cancers. In addition, he has unraveled the process by which selective estrogen receptor modulators (like tamoxifen) interact with the estrogen receptor to provide therapeutic benefit for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients. 

Benita Katzenellenbogen, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her key role in understanding the biology of estrogen receptors and their actions in breast cancer. In addition, she has elucidated fundamental aspects of mechanisms of action of the estrogen receptors and has provided the foundation for our current understanding of the molecular basis for the action of selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, are effective in controlling breast cancer.

Ian Smith, M.D., FRCP, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his work in the development of new treatments for breast cancer (including trastuzunam and letrozole), particularly in its early stages, and the use of pre-operative chemotherapy before surgery for large breast cancers. He has also demonstrated the utility of the biological marker for proliferation, Ki67, for predicting outcomes after treatment.

2008 Recipients

Patricia S. Steeg, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her key role in her important research contributions centering on how tumors grow and spread on a molecular level, with particular attention paid to how breast cancer metastasizes to the brain.

Richard D. Gelber, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his role in developing a statistical method that improves how patient care results from clinical trials are interpreted. This approach helps better compare clinical trial treatments in terms of both the quality and quantity of life provided patients.

Aron Goldhirsch, M.D.(deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for co-creating the clinical trial statistical method advances with Dr. Gelber. He also led an international collaborative group that conducts large-scale meta-analyses of breast cancer treatments.

2007 Recipients

Joe W. Gray, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for the development of innovative technologies that enable researchers to pursue original avenues of inquiry into challenging biomedical problems. By integrating data received from these technologies, Dr. Gray has made significant advancements in developing methods that have led to improved patient outcomes. Specifically, his work has led to groundbreaking research in the determination of how to improve breast cancer detection and treatment.

Leslie Bernstein, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for pioneering research that studied the link between physical activity and breast cancer, which is now well established. This research provides an evidence base for one of the few recommendations that can be made for breast cancer risk reduction. In addition to her studies on physical activity, she has contributed to the study of body size, including weight gain and obesity, another area of inquiry that has yielded insights into breast cancer risk reduction for postmenopausal women.

2006 Recipients

Evan Simpson Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his work in the field of estrogen biosynthesis, with a particular focus on research into aromatase and breast cancer. His work has major significance for the future use of aromatase inhibitors over estrogen receptor antagonists for breast cancer treatment, and opens the possibility for the development of breast-specific inhibitors of aromatase expression, which would spare bone, brain and other sites where estrogen plays important roles.

George W. Sledge Jr., M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his contributions to clinical research that has studied the treatment of breast cancer and his direction of the first large, nationwide study on the use of taxol (paclitaxel) to treat advanced breast cancer. Dr. Sledge’s involvement in the design and implementation of pivotal trials has been critical in the development of adjuvant therapies to improve disease-free and overall survival for women with metastatic breast cancer.

2005 Recipients

Anita B. Roberts, Ph.D. (deceased), and Michael J. Sporn, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for their work in growth factor research, having discovered and characterized the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), a messenger molecule integral to the activities of the cell cycle. Subsequently, Drs. Roberts and Sporn established roles for this protein in autoimmune diseases, fibrogenesis, carcinogenesis and wound healing. Their work together is now forming the basis of new therapeutic approaches.

Trevor J. Powles, Ph.D., FRCP, CBE, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his extensive work in the prevention, risk assessment, diagnosis and early treatment of breast cancer and is recognized as one of the first specialist breast medical oncologists in the world. Professor Powles also led one of the first groups to use aromatase inhibitors to treat metastatic breast cancer and continues to be at the forefront of research into the development and use of aromatase inhibitors.

2004 Recipients

Daniel Medina, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his research on the study of premalignant disease of the breast, dissecting the essential biological and molecular alterations that underlie progression from normal mammary cells to premalignant behavior to invasive behavior.

Larry Norton, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his research in the basic biology of cancer, the mathematics of tumor causation and growth and the development of approaches to better diagnosis, prevention and drug treatment of the disease.

2003 Recipients

Mina J. Bissell, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her study of the environment that surrounds breast cells and its corresponding relationship with breast cancer.

Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr.P.H., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his research on the development of methods to study the effects of diet on the occurrence of major diseases like breast cancer.

2002 Recipients

Elwood V. Jensen, Ph.D. (deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his contributions both to the understanding of steroid hormone action and to the clinical management of breast cancer patients.

Charles L. Loprinzi, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his research on the key concerns of breast cancer survivors, namely, symptom control, complementary and alternative medicine and communications issues.

2001 Recipients

Bert W. O’Malley, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his pivotal work on the molecular function of estrogen and other steroid hormone receptors.

Jay R. Harris, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his achievements in the area of clinical evaluation of breast cancer treatments, with particular emphasis on the optimal use of conservative surgery and radiation therapy for early breast cancer.

2000 Recipients

Angela Brodie, Ph.D.(deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her pioneering work on the biochemistry and pharmacology of aromatase inhibitors.

Dimitrios Trichopoulos, M.D., Ph.D. (deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his work involving discoveries in the epidemiology and etiology of breast cancer.

1999 Recipients

Mary-Claire King, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her work in the field of breast cancer genetics, specifically, the discovery of the link between BRCA1 gene mutations and breast cancer, establishing a new way to attack breast cancer and other diseases by combining the study of genetics with an understanding of family history, environmental factors and individual lifestyles.

Nancy E. Davidson, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for her work in the field of hormones and breast cancer, and her establishment of a chemotherapy-hormonal therapy regimen for the management of premenopausal breast cancer.

1998 Recipients

Leland H. Hartwell, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for is his pioneering work in understanding how normal cells divide and the mechanisms leading to the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine on October 8, 2001.

Henry T. Lynch, M.D. (deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his unparalleled contributions to the understanding of the genetic influences on breast cancer development. Dr. Lynch’s surveillance and management strategies, based on the natural history of the particular hereditary cancer syndromes, have been used by physicians throughout the world.

1997 Recipients

David Livingston, M.D. (deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his studies into specific genes that regulate cell growth in the body—genes that, when they go awry, can lead to cancer.

Gabriel Hortobagyi, M.D., FACP, received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his work in developmental therapeutics and for advances in the adjuvant treatment of advanced breast cancer.

1996 Recipients

Edison T. Liu, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his work in using mutations in the cancer-associated ras gene to learn about different types of breast cancer.

Umberto Veronesi, M.D. (deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his seminal studies examining the need for breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery as well as the type of irradiation shown to have the greatest therapeutic efficacy.

1995 Recipients

Helene S. Smith, Ph.D. (deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for her role in establishing the protocol for cultivating breast epithelial and breast cancer cells in the laboratory. She identified a novel tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer known as brush-1.

C. Kent Osborne, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for providing some of the initial basic information on the role of polypeptide growth factors and being among the first to demonstrate that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates breast cancer cells.

1994 Recipients

Marc Lippman, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his instrumental role in delineating the roles of the epidermal growth factor family in breast cancer.

Malcolm C. Pike, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for proposing how a hormonal contraceptive could be made that would provide significant lifelong protection against breast cancer.

1993 Recipients

Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for his work on the molecular basis of cancer. In 1979, he discovered the p53 tumor suppressor protein, a molecule that inhibits tumor development.

Richard J. Santen, M.D., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for his work on the mechanisms of responsiveness to hormonal therapy in women with breast cancer. He studied the expression of aromatase and the role of estrogen in breast cancer.

1992 Recipients

V. Craig Jordan, O.B.E., Ph.D., D.Sc., F.Med.Sci., received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science for establishing the role of a failed contraceptive, tamoxifen, as a clinical treatment for estrogen-responsive breast cancers.

Bernard Fisher, M.D.(deceased), received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research for conducting pioneering research that demonstrated that lumpectomy was equivalent to mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. He has also demonstrated that the use of systemic chemotherapy and hormonal therapy following surgery for breast cancer could lengthen the lives of thousands of women with breast cancer.