When breast cancer researcher Nancy Davidson spoke at the first A Woman’s Journey (AWJ), the practice of “bench to bedside medicine” was beginning to take hold at academic medical centers. It called for applying the results of lab research directly to developing new ways to treat patients.

At the time, she was beginning her work to understand how estrogen response pathways affect breast cancer growth. When AWJ co-chair Harriet Legum heard Davidson talk about targeted drugs for breast cancer, she was inspired to raise funds to create a newly endowed chair for breast cancer research. It was the first such appointment in the country.

Today, Davidson is senior vice president and director of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and president of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Her research has led to clinical trials of drug regimens tailored to patients’ specific needs.

Sara Sukumar, a basic scientist in breast cancer research, who worked alongside Davidson, was also a speaker at the inaugural AWJ. She shared her progress in developing novel treatments to be delivered through the nipple. Since then, Sukumar also has spoken about her studies on how consuming turmeric may prevent breast cancer cells from becoming more aggressive.

In addition, she and her team have developed a low-cost, self-administered test to verify whether breast tissue is cancerous or benign. Clinical studies to test its accuracy are underway.

Davidson and Sukumar continue to harness basic science research discoveries and transform them into effective treatments.

Twenty-five years ago, when Johns Hopkins Medicine established a novel platform to share its discoveries, expertise and messages of hope, the notion of “engaging patients in their own care was just coming on board,” Davidson says.

“The conference was ahead of its time,” she adds. “And it continues to reflect that.”