Response from letter to Breast Cancer Charities

This is a letter I received in response to my letter to breast cancer charities.

Dear Kate,

Thank you for reaching out to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and inquiring about
the use of animals in research. We respect your viewpoint on this issue and
hope that the following information addresses your questions.

While Susan G. Komen for the Cure does not conduct research, it does fund
innovative and responsive research projects in leading institutions
worldwide. Komen for the Cure has a long history of funding groundbreaking
research to fulfill its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.
Komen funds scientific research as well as community breast health education
and outreach programs across the country through our 122 Affiliates in the
U.S. Our research portfolio addresses areas such as prevention, survivorship,
cancer cell biology, and cancer etiology.

Komen has strict controls to maintain the integrity of the grant application
and review process. Komen's Grant Program adheres to a peer-review process
that is recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). All research
funded by Komen's Grant Program is developed and conducted under the
direction of the primary investigator who is applying for the grant.

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that any new
pharmaceutical compound be tested on at least two different animal models to
be considered for approval for use in humans. Therefore, some investigators
must conduct animal testing in order to comply with FDA regulations for drug
development. In order to be eligible for Komen research grant funding,
investigators must provide proof of pre-approval of study design and animal
care methods from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at
the institution where they will be conducting research. In accordance with
U.S. federal law, the IACUC may permit some investigators to use laboratory
animals, usually genetically bred mice, in their search to identify more
effective ways to prevent and treat breast cancer. Researchers are also
required to file an Investigator Assurance Statement to ensure all procedures
are in compliance with National Institute of Health and (NIH) and U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations.

We hope this answers your questions. We respect your viewpoint on this issue
and thank you for sharing your concerns.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Thompson, Vice President, Health Sciences

Susan G. Komen for the Cure