Birmingham resident, Dianne Riley, was selected by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) as a consumer advocate to review research applications submitted to the Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRSP). Nominated by Forge Survivorship Center, a Birmingham-based nonprofit providing support and resources to Alabama breast cancer patients, survivors, and co-survivors, Riley served as a full voting member of the committee, alongside prominent scientists to help determine how the $150 million appropriated by Congress for breast cancer research in Fiscal Year 2020 will be spent.

Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients on the impact of proposed research on issues such as diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life.

Consumer advocates and scientists have worked together in this unique partnership to evaluate the merit of research applications since 1992.