2026 RISE UP Presentations

Session 1: Personalized Screening and Other Risk Assessment Trials (WISDOM, MyPeBS) 

Presentations Included: 

  • Session 1 Opening: Setting the Scene for Screening - Major Efforts Worldwide
    • Suzette Delaloge, MD, MSc, Gustave Roussy
  • WISDOM 1.0: Review of Findings, Opportunities and Challenges
    • Laura Esserman, MD, MBA, University of California, San Francisco
  • Genetic Findings in WISDOM 1.0
    • Kirkpatrick Fergus, MD, MAS, University of California, San Francisco  
  • WISDOM and MyPeBS: Personalized breast cancer screening trials operating in distinct international contexts
    • Katherine Leggat-Barr, BS, Tufts University School of Medicine  
  • National cost of the WISDOM study risk-based breast cancer screening algorithm with comparison to advocated guidelines
    • Kimberly Badal, PhD, University of California, San Francisco  
  • Risk Stratified Breast Cancer Screening: Early Outcomes and Psychological Impact from PRSONAL – a Randomized Clinical Trial  
    • Stig Bojesen, University of Copenhagen  
       

Session 2: Overcoming resistance from the ground up: What are the drivers, and how can they inform our prevention approach

Presentations Included: 

  • Spatial Transcriptomics and sc-RNA-seq of Drug Tolerant Persister Cells and unaffected cancer cells in Ovarian Cancer after neoadjuvant-chemotherapy
    • Joshua Barkin, BS, University of California, Davis
  • A Patient Advocate's Perspective
    • Valerie Fraser, SWOG Cancer Research Network-Patient Advocates Committee 

Session 3: Early Imaging Endpoints to Accelerate the Learning Cycle (Risk Assessment and Response)

To be added...

Session 4: Risk Biomarkers as Indicators of Response in Prevention and Treatment Trials: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Presentations Included: 

  • Mammogram Image-Based Risk: A response biomarker for trials?
    • Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, Washington University
  • Biomarker selection for an early phase prevention trial comparing two selective estrogen receptor modulators: Acolbifene vs Low Dose Tamoxifen
    • Bruce Kimler, PhD, FRRS The University of Kansas Medical Center
  • ctDNA: Let the Patient Decide?
    • Amy  L. Delson, AIA, UCSF Breast Science Advocacy Core 

Session 5: Impact from Treatment to Prevention: Translational Prevention Trials 

Presentations Included: 

  • MDA20-02-01  Time restricted Eating And Metformin (TEAM) in invasive breast cancer (IBC) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).  A randomized, phase IIb, window of opportunity presurgical trial
    • Andrea De Censi, MD, Champalimaud Clinical Centre
  • A Pilot Prevention Study of the Effects of the Anti-progestin Ulipristal Acetate (UA) on Surrogate Markers of Breast Cancer Risk
    • Sacha Howell, PhD, The University of Manchester
  • Low dose TamOxifen and LifestylE changes for bReast cANcer prevenTion: a randomized phase II biomarker trial in subjects at increased risk (TOLERANT Study) 
    • Davide Serrano, European Institute of Oncology
  • Early Results from a Phase 1 Clinical Trial of a Cancer Vaccine Targeting Tumor Associated Antigen MUC1 for Immune Interception of Breast Cancer in Patients with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
    • Emilia Diego, MD, University of Pittsburgh 
       

Session 6:  The Landscape of Reproductive Healthcare in the United State

Presentations Included: 

  • Welcome and global perspective on access to reproductive healthcare
    • Daniel Grossman, MD, University of California, San Francisco
  • Capturing shifts in abortion care post-Dobbs
    • Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH, University of California, San Francisco
  • Providing comprehensive reproductive and pregnancy care to breast cancer patients
    • Lynn Yee MD, MPH, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  • The Illinois CARLA program, a model for abortion care access
    • Jonah Fleisher, MD, MPH, University of Illinois – Chicago
  • Hearing from patients – perspectives from ACESSS Reproductive Justice
    • Jessica Pinckney Gil, ACCESS Reproductive Justice 

       

Session 7: Clinical Crossroads: Contraception, Benign Uterine Conditions, and Breast Cancer Prevention

Presentations Included: 

  • Where stigma and evidence collide: considerations for creative applications of ulipristal acetate emergency contraception
    • Abigail Liberty, MD, MSPH, Oregon Health & Science University
  • Can treatment of uterine fibroid provide a path for breast cancer Prevention?
    • Mervat Omran, B.pharm, MS, MD/PhD, University of Chicago
  • A randomized trial of UPA vs a COC "UPA drastically lowers breast cell proliferation” (& RCT of UPA contraceptive phase 1-2)
    • Carolyn Westhoff, MD, MSc, Columbia University 
  • Hormonal cancer prevention in premenopausal women: reducing ovarian hormone exposure while preserving fertility
    • Jeffrey N. Weitzel, MD, University of Kansas Comprehensive Cancer Center
       

Session 8: Interaction of Pregnancy and Breast Cancer: Translational Opportunities to Accelerate Improving Outcome

Presentations Included: 

  • Session Introduction – Why talk about Pregnancy and Breast Cancer?
    • Virginia Borges, MD, University of Colorado
  • Pregnancy Factors and Breast Cancer Risk by Familial Risk within the Breast Cancer Family Registry
    • Jasmine McDonald, PhD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Prevention of PPBC via novel detection methods:  Beyond Blood: Can Breast Milk ctDNA Enable Earlier Detection of PPBC?
    • Cristina Saura, MD, PhD, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
  • Pregnancy after Breast Cancer – is it protective?
    • Matteo Lambertini, MD, PhD, University of Genova 

Session 9: Innovative Strategies for Community Engaged Research to Accelerate Progress in Women’s Health

Presentations Included: 

  • Innovative Strategies to Scale Personalized Prevention
    • Olufunmilayo Olopade, MD, University of Chicago
  • Breast Cancer Champions: Meeting you where you live
    • David Haynes, PhD, University of Minnesota
  • Introducing Clinical Hope -  A Paradigm Shifting Approach to Clinical Trials
    • Zhonnet Harper, Alameda County Public Health Commission
  • A Patient Advocate's Perspective
    • Ricki Fairley, TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance 
       

Session 10: Environment, the Exposome & Inflammation as a Mediator of Breast Cancer Risk

Presentations Included: 

  • The History of Environmental Exposures and Breast Cancer
    • Mary Beth Terry, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University, Executive Director of Silent Spring Institute
  • The Breast Cancer Exposome: Uncovering the Role of Environmental Chemicals
    • Alexandra White, PhD, MSPH, National Institute of Health
  • From Science to Policy
    • Nancy Buermeyer, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners
       

Session 11: Lifestyle-based Prevention Strategies 

Presentations Included: 

  • May the Fiber Be With You: Cultivating a healthy microbiome
    • Katrine Whiteson, PhD, University of California, Irvine
  • Diet and the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis: The Role in Health and Disease​
    • Leigh A. Frame, PhD, MSH, The George Washington University
  • Increased fatty acid availability drives metabolic dysregulations associated with tumorigenic breast remodeling
    • Mariana Bustamente Eduardo, PhD, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
  • Moving On: Empowering Lifestyle Change
    • Elisabeth Watson, UCSF Breast Health Clinic Volunteer

Session 12: Treating Obesity / Obesity in the Context of the Larger Hormonal Picture  

Presentations Included: 

  • Microbiome in Obesity
    • Katherine Cook, PhD, Wake Forest University
  • Obesity causes dysregulation of immune memory and loss of protection following therapeutic vaccination for breast cancer
    • Erika J. Crosby, PhD, Duke University Medical Center
  • Comparative Effects of Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide on Weight Change and Cardiovascular Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors
    • Jasmine Hundal, MD, MS, MPH, Cleaveland Clinic
  • A Patient Advocate's Perspective
    • Julia Laursen, For the Four 
       

Session 13: Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Alternatives for Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer

Presentations Included: 

  • An evidence-informed approach to MHT in women at high risk 
    • Lisa Larkin, MD, FACP, MSCP, Ms. Medicine  & Erin Duralde, MD, MPH, MSCP, One Medical 
       

Session 14: Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Alternatives for Women with Breast Cancer

Presentations Included: 

  • From the front lines of gynecology: bridging evidence, advocacy, and social media about HRT after breast cancer
    • Abigail Liberty, MD, MSPH, Oregon Health & Science University
  • Why Early Conversations and Ongoing Care Matter for Menopause After Breast Cancer
    • Jane Mortimer, UCSF Breast Science Advocacy Core
  • Clinical Insights Informing Management Strategies in Breast Cancer Survivors
    • Mindy Goldman, MD, Midi Health