Dana-Farber's Eric Winer, MD, named chief scientific advisor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Clinician, researcher, educator to maintain Dana-Farber, Harvard positions while helping global breast cancer leader attain strategic goals

DALLAS — Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, has announced the appointment of Eric P. Winer, MD, a nationally known medical oncologist, researcher and educator from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical Center, as its chief scientific advisor.

In announcing Winer's appointment, Komen for the Cure's founder, Nancy G. Brinker, said, "Dr. Eric Winer brings the perfect balance of research, clinical, educational and administrative skills to Komen and its Health Sciences team. The breast cancer world listens to Eric. He is a leader, a brilliant idea person and a gifted clinician, recognized as a role model and guide for coming generations of doctors and researchers. Most importantly, he is deeply devoted to new and better treatments for breast cancer patients."

As he assumes the role of Komen's chief scientific advisor, Winer will maintain his positions as director of the Breast Oncology Center at Dana-Farber. In addition to his duties at Dana-Farber, Winer will retain his position of associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Winer comes to Komen as the organization embarks on a mission to invest another $1 billion over the next decade in breast cancer research and community outreach programs that will move the organization closer to its promise to end breast cancer forever. In recent weeks, Komen announced nearly $82 million dollars in scientific research grants last fiscal year, an increase of 40 percent over the previous year.

Helping to fulfill the Komen promise

"Susan G. Komen for the Cure is committed to helping patients with breast cancer today and eliminating the fear of breast cancer for future generations," said Winer. "With a renewed promise to end breast cancer forever, I'm very enthusiastic about joining the Komen team. I'm bringing with me the insight I've gained from 20 years in working in breast cancer, the last 10 of which have been at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School."

As Komen's chief scientific advisor, Winer will advise the organization on its grants strategy and help plan public policy efforts. He will also advise the organization on the development of new educational messages, assist in shaping organizational responses to emerging breast cancer news and serve as a global spokesperson for Komen. Winer also will help create a small group of top-level scientific and medical advisors that will guide Komen over the years ahead.

Winer's background

Winer is widely published and well known in the international breast cancer community. His research interests stem directly from considerable experience in the clinical arena and the challenges that have been posed by more than 2,000 breast cancer patients he has cared for throughout his career. His primary research focus is on improving the lives of women with breast cancer by understanding the intricacies of the disease process and developing more effective and less toxic treatments. He is a devoted educator, with an ongoing interest in training and mentoring the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

After graduating from Yale University in 1978 with a degree in history and Russian/East European studies, Winer earned his medical degree from Yale School of Medicine in 1983, followed by training in internal medicine at Yale. He moved to Duke University Medical Center in 1987 and completed a fellowship in medical oncology in 1989. On the Duke faculty, he specialized in breast cancer and became co-director of the institution's Multidisciplinary Breast Program. In 1997, Winer moved to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he became director of the Breast Oncology Center and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Winer is the co-chair of the breast cancer committee in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and has had wide-ranging experience in numerous national and international breast cancer initiatives.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.