BCRF at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2015

Follow along this week as we report from the world’s largest conference specifically focused on breast cancer research

The BCRF team is headed to the 38th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) which officially kicks off Tuesday with scientific sessions and presentations through midday Saturday. Be sure to follow BCRF this week on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@BCRFcure and #BeTheEnd) as we report the results of your donations at work – research advances.  With close to 10,000 attendees expected, SABCS is the world’s largest conference specifically focused on breast cancer research.  The 2015 SABCS has three co-chairs, including BCRF grantees C. Kent Osborne, MD, and Carlos L. Arteaga, MD.

As we kick off the week in anticipation of hearing the latest breast cancer breakthroughs, we thought it would helpful to explain to BCRF supporters how science conferences work.

As early as May, scientists from all over the world send mini summaries of  their latest research to the SABCS Executive and Program Committees for consideration. Based on this expert review, an applicant may be invited to give (i) a plenary lecture or (ii) a poster presentation. Plenary session opportunities are limited to a few dozen while thousands of posters will be presented over the five-day conference.

Plenary Sessions: Scientists invited to give a lecture in the Plenary Session speak on a stage in the main auditorium, and most often use PowerPoint slides. These sessions are attended by a majority of conference attendees. In the case of San Antonio, that means an audience of thousands of other scientists and experts. Often there is time for two or three questions from the audience after each plenary speaker.

Poster Sessions: Scientists selected for a poster session prepare an actual poster 84” X 42” that features the key details of the research including a summary paragraph (called “an abstract”), scientific methods, results and the author’s conclusions. Posters are set up in an open forum allowing the presenting scientists to answer questions from other scientists, advocates and members of the press who stop by to learn about their study and results. We look forward to reporting on Poster presentations from several BCRF Investigators.

The BCRF team on the ground at the 2015 SABCS will report on scientific breakthroughs presented each day of the conference between December 7-12 through our social media channels. Over the next several weeks we will also provide blogs summarizing the key presentations from the conference overall as well as highlight BCRF-funded research results.