Posted October 3, 2023

Dr. Susan Love, the influential breast cancer surgeon and patient advocate who passed away on July 2, 2023, played a pivotal role in the creation of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.
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On July 2, 2023, Dr. Susan Love, a breast cancer surgeon who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), died after a long battle with leukemia.

“Susan Love was one of the key individuals to whom we can attribute the existence of the CDMRP,” said Dr. Gayle Vaday, civilian deputy director and former program manager of CDMRP’s Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) for 14 years. “Her advocacy work not only led to the creation of the BCRP, but also helped build the foundation for this organization which is now comprised of over thirty programs.”

In 1991, Dr. Love, along with other advocates, founded the National Breast Cancer Coalition and fought for an increase in funding from the federal government for breast cancer research. The following year, Congress established the peer-reviewed BCRP.

The BCRP supported Dr. Love’s early research into intraductal therapy, a minimally invasive intervention for diagnosing and treating breast cancer. With funding from two BCRP awards in Fiscal Years 1993 and 1995, Dr. Love looked for early evidence of cancer in the milk ducts of the breast, where most breast tumors appear to arise. She used an endoscope to enter and examine milk ducts through their openings at the nipple.

Her research increased understanding of duct architecture, most importantly by providing strong evidence that early-stage breast cancer is confined to a single duct system. Dr. Love’s research laid the groundwork for the development of increasingly complex and miniaturized endoscopes to enable clinicians to retrieve cell samples for analysis, identify the precise location of intraductal lesions for excision, and deliver intraductal breast cancer therapy.

Dr. Love participated in BCRP Era of Hope conferences that fostered an atmosphere for collaborative thinking and encouraged BCRP-funded researchers and breast cancer advocates to join forces to challenge paradigms, push boundaries, and identify innovative, high-impact approaches for future research. She also continued to support the BCRP through her collaborations with advocates over the past 30 years. BCRP-funded research has led to numerous advances that are making an impact for those affected by breast cancer. The program continues to invest in the discovery, development, and testing of new therapeutics and vaccines, diagnostic and prognostic tools, and clinical approaches.

Dr. Love leaves a legacy of playing a leading role in the fight against breast cancer through innovative ideas in research and clinical care.

“Dr. Susan Love inspired change and transformed breast cancer and women's health,” said Dr. Vaday. “We owe it to her to remember how important her efforts were in establishing the CDMRP and supporting its continuation through the years.”

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