Research
Research Gives Us Hope: Why Your Support Matters
Behind every woman facing breast cancer there is a group of dedicated researchers who are working tirelessly to develop new treatments when traditional options are not suitable.
At Mater Research, this works never stops. Because until we can help every patient, the work continues.
Breast cancer isn’t just one disease. It comes in many forms, with different subtypes that behave in different ways. Some grow slowly, others aggressively. Some respond well to treatment, others resist it. That’s why research is so vital—because no two women are the same, and neither are their breast cancer journeys.
One of the most challenging subtypes is Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It accounts for just 10% of breast cancer cases, but disproportionately affects younger women and carries a five-year mortality rate of over 20% for those under 50.*
TNBC tends to grow fast and can be resistant to chemotherapy.
Thanks to Dr Jodi Saunus and her colleagues at Mater Research progress is being made. They are homing in on TNBC, trying to unlock new diagnostics for at-risk patients, and work toward the development of new treatment pathways.
“Because our team spans across breast cancer research, clinical care and bioinformatics, we are in an incredible position to do this work,” Dr Saunus said.
Dr Saunus and her team are working directly with Mater patients to gather and compare breast tissue samples, as part of a new project to decode a range of mysteries about TNBC susceptibility and chemotherapy response.
“This study is allowing us to dive deeper into the epigenomics of human breast tumours than ever before, so the chances of discovering entirely new information about breast cancer are very high.
This research has the potential to lead the way TNBC is managed, developing new drugs that make tumours more responsive to chemotherapy.” Dr Saunus said.
Generous donations and community fundraising plays a vital role in ensuring important research projects can access consistent and ongoing funding and help to find the next breakthrough for women diagnosed with cancer.
*New study accepted for publication in the Journal of Cancer Policy: Vaz-Goncalves et al (2025), "Capturing breast cancer subtypes in cancer registries: insights into real-world incidence and survival"
Your Donation Fuels Discovery
Every breakthrough starts with a question—and every answer requires funding. Your donation helps researchers keep asking, keep testing, and keep pushing forward.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, fundraise, donate, or host your own event.
Fundraise or donate today. Because research gives us hope.
