UC launches bold initiative to revolutionize breast cancer treatment

BERKELEY — The University of California, Berkeley, is one of six UC campuses participating in an unprecedented initiative to study and drive innovations in breast cancer prevention, screening, and treatment. The large-scale demonstration project, called the ATHENA Breast Health Network, was announced Tuesday, Sept. 29 by the University of California. Initially, an estimated 150,000 women throughout California will be screened for breast cancer and followed for decades through the five UC medical centers: UC San Francisco as the host campus for the project, UC Davis, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego and UC Irvine. The large size of the study has the potential to significantly impact breast cancer treatment and prevention for the next several decades. "This initiative will demonstrate that the total of what can be accomplished by UC functioning as an integrated system can far exceed the sum of contributions by the individual campuses," said Dr. John D. Stobo, UC senior vice president for health sciences and services. "ATHENA represents an unprecedented opportunity to play a leadership role in driving critical changes in health care.