For the first time ever, metastatic breast cancer researchers at Duke University and the University of North Carolina are collaboriating for one common goal: to find a cure.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR COVID-19 DASHBOARD ONLINE OR ON THE WRAL APP. >>> A MEDICAL MILESTONE TODAY AT DUKE AND UNC WHO HAVE ONE GOAL, TO FIND A WAR FOR BREAST CANCER. THE TWO SHADES OF BLUE ART COLLABORATING. THEY CAME TOGETHER FOR A SUMMIT TO KICK OFF THIS RELATIONSHIP. TWO ARE HERE FROM DUKE AND UNC. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT . >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON. SPEAK -- IT IS INTERESTING. WE TALK ABOUT THE RIVALRY BETWEEN UNC AND DUKE. WE TALK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL. WE ARE A INCREDIBLY COLLABORATIVE GROUP WHEN IT COMES TO TARGETING BREAST CANCER. WE HAVE TWO POWERHOUSES. WE HAVE NEVER REALLY FORMED A RELATIONSHIP. THIS IS A BRAINCHILD TO FORMALIZE THE RELATIONSHIP. WE HAVE BEEN SET WITH ONE GOAL, TO COME UP WITH COLLABORATIVE REACTIONS TO TACKLE BREAST CANCER. >> DR. CARRIE, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY? >> I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM. THERE IS A BREATH OF KNOWLEDGE AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE TWO INSTITUTIONS. TO BE HONEST, WHILE WE DO DO COLLABORATIVE WORK, WE CLEARLY HAVEN'T TOUCHED THE SURFACE OF IT. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENORMOUS. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY WERE BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE ABOUT TARGETABLE ABNORMALITIES, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND INTO CLINICAL TRIALS THAT WOULD BRING IT TO OUR PATIENTS. THE CHAT WAS BLOWING UP WITH PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS AND OFFERING TO COLLABORATE AND HAVING GREAT IDEAS. IT WAS LOVELY. I HAVE TO SAY, THE OTHER THING WE HAD, TWO FANTASTIC PATIENT ADVOCATES THAT HAVE REST CANCER. THEY REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME FOR SOME OF THE KEY SCIENTISTS WHO DON'T ALWAYS INTERACT WITH PATIENTS. THEY SHOWED EVERYONE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. >> A VERY PERSONAL MISSION FOR THEM. DR. McDONALD, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS. TREATMENTS HAVE COME A LONG WAY. DO YOU THINK RESEARCHERS INVOLVED IN TODAY'S SUMMIT WILL FIND A CURE? >> ABSOLUTELY. THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ON OUR CALLS WERE THE YOUNG INVESTIGATORS. THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL IN TRAINING. REMEMBER, IT WAS A 30-YEAR-OLD THAT PUT A ROCKET ON THE MOON. THESE 30-YEAR-OLD, BRIGHT KIDS, ARE GOING TO COME UP WITH THESE IDEAS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP AND THE SUPPORT FOR THEIR BRAND-NEW IDEAS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HIT HOME FOR ME WAS ONE OF THE SURVIVORS TALKING ABOUT BEING DIAGNOSED, A NEW DRUG CAME ALONG AND SHE RELAPSED, A MONTH LATER ANOTHER NEW DRUG CAME ALONG. WE ARE GETTING OUT THOSE NEW DRUGS VERY, VERY QUICKLY. >> DR. CARRIE, DO YOU THINK THIS GROUP WILL FIND A CURE? >> I THINK IF ANYONE IS GOING TO FIND A CURE THIS IS THE GROUP THAT IS GOING TO DO IT. I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK ON ONLY BE 30-YEAR-OLDS, I'M NOT BUYING THAT. >> I WANT TO OFFER THE THEM THE SUPPORT TO DO IT. >> I WILL GO WITH THAT. >> I SO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO. WE ARE BLESSED TO
