There is currently no cure for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Because of you, Sister Sojourn was able to raise over $50,000 and fund a research grant. You all deserve a round of applause and a big thank you. With the help of ordinary people, scientific research is continually leading to new treatments, options, and methods.
With this in mind, I applied and was accepted as a METAvivor Patient Advocate Reviewer (PAR) for the upcoming research grant funding year. METAvivor received over 100 grant proposals. These proposals give me hope that one day there will be a cure.
In my role as a PAR, I had the opportunity to be involved in evaluating big ideas. We were assigned proposals, and our job was to review each grant’s letter of intent, provide a ranking, and add comments. The reviews didn’t require a comprehensive understanding of the science behind each proposed study. Our evaluation focused on assessing the likelihood of the project having a lasting, significant impact on the treatment of MBC or laying the groundwork for future treatments.
Taking a Deep Breath
What an eye-opening experience! When I read my first letter of intent, I was overwhelmed. I had no idea what they were talking about. All I could think was, “What did I get myself into?” After a few pages and many deep breaths, I calmed down. I started looking up words, and slowly it started to make sense. It is fascinating…the ideas, the promise, and the persistence of the researchers. The science was way beyond my understanding, but the concepts and quests to find answers to how and why MBC behaves as it does are so intriguing. In addition to the patient advocate review, each letter of intent and grant is examined by one to two scientists and/or clinicians. The PAR scores are incorporated into the overall scores of the scientists. Then, grants are awarded based on the final assessment scores.
I may not be a scientist, but as A PAR, I had a chance to see firsthand the effort to find MBC answers. I was pleased and inspired to do my part in helping to find a cure for this incurable disease.
— Brandi
You can help.
