October 27, 2025
Lauren Nye, MD, clinical director of the High Risk Breast Clinic at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, has received a prestigious R50 Clinical Scientist Award from the National Cancer Institute. This grant supports Dr. Nye’s efforts to modernize breast cancer prevention research and improve access to clinical trials for those who are at risk.
About 15% of women are at risk for developing breast cancer. Several factors contribute to breast cancer risk, including family history, genetic mutations (for example, BRCA genes), breast density, age and lifestyle.
Unlike treatment trials, prevention trials often involve healthy individuals who may be unaware of their personal risk. That disconnect can make recruitment difficult. Many people may miss out on opportunities to participate in research that could help prevent cancer before it starts.
Dr. Nye’s work will address this barrier. She is working to improve how data is tracked and shared, so researchers can better understand who is participating and where the barriers exist. She will also lead a community education campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer risk and the availability of prevention trials. And she’s developing a framework to bring these breast cancer prevention trials into community settings, making it easier for people to participate regardless of where they live or take care.
“We know that most people eligible for cancer prevention trials aren’t patients at a cancer center,” Dr. Nye said. “This grant gives us the opportunity to rethink how we deliver these trials, so they’re not just available but truly accessible to everyone.”