Pitching for Prevention: Highlights from Our Conference Dragon’s Den Grant Round

At our inaugural Prevent Breast Cancer Research Conference in September 2024, we hosted a special Dragon’s Den-style live grant round, putting researchers in the hot seat to pitch their ideas for the chance to secure up to £10,000 in funding.

The session, hosted by Professor Cliona Kirwan, was fun, dynamic and inspiring (and yes, there was a suitcase full of money!). All five innovative 12-month pilot projects presented were awarded funding, each with the potential to advance breast cancer prevention or early detection.

Closer look at the projects that won funding

Empowering Women with Learning Disabilities: Breast Cancer Awareness Workshops

Project Lead: Jenny Jones, Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance

Women with learning disabilities are significantly less likely to attend breast screening and are often diagnosed at later stages. This 12-month pilot is tackling that inequality by delivering 10 co-produced, accessible breast cancer awareness workshops across Greater Manchester.

Led by Pathways Associates CIC and key community partners, the workshops use easy-read resources, interactive teaching, and peer involvement to build understanding, reduce stigma, and increase screening confidence for up to 100 women. Early sessions, which began in May 2025, revealed a broader need for breast health education, prompting the team to expand the target age group to include women aged 18 and over. Once completed, this pilot will create a replicable model for addressing health disparities in cancer prevention.

Repurposing FDA-Approved Drugs for Breast Cancer Prevention

Project Leads: Dr Hannah Harrison & Anthony Wilby, University of Manchester and Manchester Breast Centre

This study explores a faster route to new prevention therapies by testing existing FDA-approved drugs using an advanced breast tissue explant model. The model reflects the structure and hormonal environment of normal breast tissue.

The team is assessing compounds that target metabolic, endocrine, and nerve signalling pathways to identify those that reduce cell proliferation or improve tissue health. By repurposing known drugs, this research could accelerate the discovery of safer, more effective prevention options for high-risk women while generating data to support larger-scale studies and personalised strategies.

Targeting Tissue Stiffness: A New Approach to Breast Cancer Prevention

Project Lead: Dr Bruno Simões, University of Manchester and Manchester Breast Centre

Dense breast tissue is a known risk factor for breast cancer and is linked to increased tissue stiffness, but the biological mechanisms behind this are not fully understood.

This pilot study uses 3D breast organoids grown in soft and stiff collagen matrices to mimic the mechanical conditions of dense and less-dense breasts. Researchers are applying single-cell RNA sequencing to examine how matrix stiffness affects gene expression and cell communication, uncovering potential new pathways for prevention, particularly for women with high breast density.

So far, organoid cultures have been successfully established under both soft and stiff matrix conditions, with preliminary analyses suggesting matrix stiffness induces distinct transcriptional responses that may be linked to early transformation pathways. More can be read about the project here.

National Family History Study Day

Family History Clinics support thousands of women at moderate to high risk of breast cancer, yet services remain fragmented and underrepresented in national prevention research. With the support of Prevent Breast Cancer, the National Breast Imaging Academy, the Association of Breast Surgeons, and Breast Cancer Now, Consultant Breast Surgeon Ramsey Cutress (University of Southampton) is developing a national network of clinics to improve coordination and research participation.

A key milestone in this initiative is the Family History Clinic Study Day in January 2026, hosted by Prevent Breast Cancer. Subsidised places will enable geneticists, surgeons, oncologists, and nurses from across the UK to attend, marking a vital step toward more unified, evidence-based care for women with a family history of breast cancer.

Pilot Study: Using Breast Milk in Early Breast Cancer Detection

Project Lead: Dr Niki Flaum, University of Manchester

Pregnant and breastfeeding women with a high genetic risk currently face gaps in traditional screening. This pilot project explores whether breast milk can be used as a safe, non-invasive tool to detect early signs of breast cancer.

The study is examining whether cancer-associated DNA can be reliably detected in breast milk, assessing women’s attitudes towards the method, and establishing infrastructure for future research, including a participant registry and biobank. If successful, this approach could allow earlier detection during a critical and currently underserved period.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The Dragon’s Den round was a standout moment of the 2024 conference, providing researchers with the opportunity to bring their innovative project ideas to life and secure vital funding.

Applications for the 2026 Conference Dragon’s Den round are now open!

If you have a pioneering project focused on breast cancer prevention or early detection, this is your opportunity to pitch for funding and make a real impact. Submit your application by Saturday, 31st January 2026.

Join The Conference

Tickets for the Prevent Breast Cancer Research Conference 2026 (3–4 March, Treehouse Hotel, Manchester) are also available. Join us to hear the latest advances from world-leading experts, network with researchers and clinicians, hear updates about last year’s winners and watch the next Dragon’s Den live grant round unfold.