NBCC’s Project LEAD

To ensure Project LEAD is an enriching experience for all attendees, we ask all participants to abide by a few guidelines during the program: 

• You are expected to attend the entire program. The lectures and study group sessions build upon each other and missing some sessions will mean you have not gotten the full experience. If you cannot commit to attending all six days of Project LEAD, we would recommend applying at a different time. Failure to attend all lectures and activities means you will not graduate or receive the benefits designed for Project LEAD graduates. 

• You will complete a Graduate Action Plan, laying out your advocacy goals with NBCC. As you go through Project LEAD, we ask you to think about how you plan to use the skills and knowledge gained there going forward, and how you might involve yourself with NBCC’s mission alongside the work you already do. 

• You will have respect for your fellow attendees and faculty members. Project LEAD is an interactive learning environment, and to ensure that everyone has the best possible experience, we ask that participants treat each other with respect and kindness. This includes making sure everyone has a chance to speak and participate in group discussions, arriving on time for sessions, and making sure we are all working towards shared learning goals.  

• You must stay at the designated course hotel. All the course activities, including meals, are held at the same venue. We have found it is more effective to have the entire group staying together. 

The course lasts for six days and is an intensive, interactive experience. Days are long, mornings are early, and because it is a classroom environment, there are long periods of sitting. We ask any advocates interested in attending to make sure that such a schedule is doable for them. While we are regularly joined by advocates in various stages of treatment, we want to make sure that everyone is putting their health first before attending a strenuous program. If Project LEAD is not right for you at this time, we welcome your application for a future session. 

Typically, days begin with breakfast at 7am, followed by the first lecture at about 8am. The daily program will end by about 6:30pm – 7:00pm. Each day will contain several lectures, followed by smaller breakout groups for review and discussion, with multiple short breaks in between.  All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are provided. 

On any given day, the full group will hear several lectures from expert faculty and then break out into small study groups, led by their respective mentors and a scientific expert. With the aid of provided study questions, the groups review what they learned in the lectures to clarify and synthesize the material. At the end of the week, each group presents on a topic from the course. 

Project LEAD participants come from around the country (and the world) to attend the course. You will be able to get to know other advocates during breaks, mealtimes, and study groups, and interact one-on-one with scientists and researchers. 

Mentors are experienced NBCC advocates who have already taken Project LEAD and will assist participants through their experience. Each participant will be assigned to a small group with one mentor. This person will help prepare their group for Project LEAD, guide them through the course material, and keep in touch with them post-LEAD to ensure they are able to implement their advocacy goals. 

There is no registration or tuition fee to attend the Project LEAD Institute. Course materials, content, and meals are provided to all attendees. However, advocates are expected to cover their own travel and hotel stay at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa. Some scholarships are available to support hotel and travel. 

Yes! NBCC is pleased to offer three types of scholarships: 

• Hotel: Covers the cost of a shared room at the Estancia La Jolla for the duration of Project LEAD. 

• Travel: Reimburses up to $400 in travel costs after the completion of Project LEAD. 

• Hotel and travel: Both of the above. 

Instructions on how to apply are found in the Project LEAD application. 

The dress code is casual. It is important to be comfortable during the long sessions. 

We strongly recommend participants bring their own laptop or tablet. Course materials will be provided electronically for participants to print or view on their devices, according to their preferences. If requested, a rented iPad may be provided by NBCC to access the course content. Printed copies of slides, readings, etc. are not available. 

While attending NBCC’s Summit prior to taking Project LEAD is not required, it is strongly encouraged. The Summit provides an excellent opportunity to learn about NBCC and our priorities, as well as to begin to make connections with our network of dedicated advocates. Applicants who have previously attended an Advocate Leadership Summit will be given priority in the selection process. 

The Project LEAD workshop was a two-day training program for advocates interested in an introductory education in the science of breast cancer. 

This workshop taught students how to be critical thinkers and how to better understand the breast cancer science in the media every day. 

At the Project LEAD workshop, students studied the biological and molecular concepts that explain how breast cancer works and the research methods and study designs that allow scientists to discover new information and test their ideas. 

Quality Care Project LEAD was a four-day course that taught breast cancer advocates how to improve the quality of health care for everyone through systems change. This course, part of NBCC’s Quality Care Initiative, built upon our vision of quality care to provide advocates the tools to identify opportunities and develop strategies for improving the quality of health care in their communities. 

At Quality Care Project LEAD, participants: 

• Became familiar with the science, language, and concepts used in the quality care field 

• Learned the types, levels, and sources of evidence used in breast cancer care, and where the gaps in evidence are 

• Understood the design and methodology of health services research used in measuring what matters in quality care 

• Explored the US health care system structure and advocates’ role in systems change 

• Heard about NBCC’s vision of quality care and acquired tools to achieve it 

Graduates of Quality Care Project LEAD helped shape the national dialogue on quality care issues. They represented NBCC on state, local, and national advisory committees and technical panels focused on such topics as quality measurement and clinical guidelines. 

As we continue to work with key stakeholders in the health care system on our public policy priority, guaranteed access to quality health care for all, trained advocates will help implement health care reform legislation nationally and locally and ensure that these efforts adhere to our quality care principles. 

Clinical Trials Project LEAD was a four-day advanced course open to graduates of the Project LEAD Institute. 

The course focused on understanding and improving breast cancer clinical trials research. This course, part of NBCC’s Clinical Trials Initiative, trained advocates to participate in all levels of the clinical trials process from evaluating trial design to serving on Institutional Review Boards and Data Safety Monitoring Boards. 

At Clinical Trials Project LEAD®, participants: 

• Became familiar with the drug development process and key terms such as accelerated approval and surrogate endpoints 

• Learned about the purpose, design, and endpoints associated with different types of clinical trials 

• Explored the similarities and differences in issues of clinical trials in the metastatic, adjuvant, and preventive settings 

• Acquired the skills to critically evaluate research protocols 

• Understood ethical issues in clinical trials such as autonomy, beneficence, and justice 

• Discussed the intersection of current trends in clinical trials politics and methodology with advocacy 

Clinical Trials Project LEAD graduates have represented NBCC in research partnerships, at scientific conferences, and in other research settings. 

International Project LEAD was a training course modeled on NBCC’s Project LEAD curriculum that covered the basics of cancer biology, genetics, epidemiology, research design, and advocacy, with an emphasis on global clinical trials. 

International Project LEAD was developed in 2004 in consultation with a wide range of advocacy groups and scientific organizations. Its purpose was to promote effective advocacy to improve clinical trials and advance the mission of knowing how to end breast cancer on a global scale. 

The faculty members of International Project LEAD included renowned scientists from international academic and research institutions. The course was taught in English, and participants were fluent in both the written and spoken language. 

International Project LEAD courses have been held in Paris and Buenos Aires. The first was held June 20-26, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. 

This project worked to bring NBCC’s unique and well-respected science-based advocacy to the global arena to ensure that breast cancer research everywhere is ethical, efficient, effective, and useful. The project had three components: 

• Online International Community: NBCC’s LEAD Grads Online is an exclusive online community designed to keep graduates energized and engaged. International advocates have always been welcome to join in debates and share information alongside our domestic advocates. NBCC’s Beyond Borders Advocate Network included a separate online forum and a range of resources specific to international concerns. 
• A Global Clinical Trials Continuing Education Program: NBCC offered an international webinar series specifically focused on international research. Topics included clinical trial design, ethics, and international regulation of clinical trials, as well as in-depth reviews of specific trials of interest. 
• Mentorship For Emerging Leaders: Beyond Borders worked closely with emerging international leaders and provided them with additional support. We expanded our existing national mentor program to connect new international advocates with more experienced advocates in their region. We also involved key advocates in the development and implementation of our international training programs.