Basser Center for BRCA

06/04/2026

That moment when the research data hits 🤯😂

06/01/2026

05/31/2026

Kara Maxwell, MD, PHD, Basser’s Men & BRCA Program Director, shares an exciting update in hereditary prostate cancer research from the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology () Annual Meeting - the world’s largest meeting of oncology experts.

05/28/2026

We’re proud to recognize Carman Man-Chung Li, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at Penn Medicine and a 2026 Young Investigator Award recipient from the Basser Center's Young Leadership Council.

Dr. Li’s research investigates one of the most important yet least understood moments in cancer development: the earliest biological events immediately before and after cancer initiation. Her lab develops genetically engineered models that closely mirror BRCA1-related breast cancer to better understand the processes that drive tumor formation and identify opportunities for earlier cancer interception.

Dr. Li is also the recipient of the Pearl & Philip Basser Innovation Research Award, which honors early career investigators at the University of Pennsylvania conducting innovative BRCA-related research across basic, translational, and clinical science.

Her work reflects the kind of bold, forward-looking research that moves hereditary cancer prevention and care forward!

05/28/2026

05/21/2026

And the future of BRCA research looks ⭐️bright⭐️

Hundreds of the world’s brightest minds in BRCA research gathered at our annual Scientific Symposium to discuss modern ideas and the latest advances in the field.

05/20/2026

Class of 2026 🎓 Congratulations to Isabella Brown, who received her master’s degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania! Isabella was the 3rd recipient of the Basser Genetic Counseling scholarship, generously created by members of the Basser Center Advisory Board to support students pursuing a career in genetic counseling.

Wishing Isabella and all the graduates of the MGC Program the best of luck as they begin their new careers in genetic counseling!

05/12/2026

The Basser Center’s annual Scientific Symposium is a powerful reminder of why we do this work. Co-founder Mindy Gray’s words underscore how personal loss can translate to a global mission of discovery.

It is the dedication of our researchers and clinicians that turns complex science into hope for every family impacted by BRCA mutations.

04/24/2026

From the lab to real life American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 🔬👉🌴

Minh Than, MD, PhD and Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, FAACR, director of the Penn Medicine - Abramson Cancer Center, co-authored the latest research in BRCA-related pancreatic cancer from Penn Medicine.

Their study looks at targeting pre-cancerous changes in the pancreas before cancer develops. In early research, these lesions were eliminated before they could grow into pancreatic cancer, highlighting the potential of a prevention-focused approach.

We’re sharing more about this work and what it could mean for the future of pancreatic cancer research here: https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/new-strategy-targets-pancreatic-cancer-before-it-forms

04/23/2026

All smiles at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting from the career development award winner Carman Man-Chung Li, PhD!

Dr. Li is a core investigator at the Basser Center, where her lab is on a mission to understand new mechanisms of hereditary cancer development, with a major focus on BRCA1/2 breast cancer, and how we can stop it before it starts.

From uncovering how life factors like aging and pregnancy affect cancer risk, to developing tools for earlier detection and better treatment, Dr. Li's work is making a real difference for families facing hereditary cancer.

This award is a well-deserved recognition of her dedication to the field. We couldn't be more proud!