Media Alert

08 June 2025

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham supports the Lobular Moon Shot Project

"I’m proud to back the Lobular Moon Shot Project and to speak at this important event. When I was Health Secretary, I saw first-hand how vital it is to invest in research that can truly change lives and that’s exactly what this project has the power to do.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham

The Mayor will speak at a Lobular Moon Shot Project Think Tank meeting later this month. This important meeting will bring together world-class researchers, scientists, industry and invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) advocates, all with a specific interest, who wish to move ILC research forward at a much greater pace to improve patient outcomes.

Additional campaign Information:

Fact Not Fiction Films has made a documentary film about the two-year LMSP campaign ‘Our Journey with Lobular Breast Cancer’, which will premiere at the 33rd Raindance Film Festival in London on 24th June.
Follow the link to watch the trailer - https://vimeo.com/1084692558?share=copy.
On the same day (24th June) at 3pm LMSP campaigners will hold a silent vigil on Whitehall outside the security gate to Downing Street. 22 women who have been diagnosed with lobular breast cancer will stand silently for 22 minutes in solidarity with the 22 women who will be diagnosed with lobular breast cancer that day in the UK (and every day). The campaigners will be joined by several MPs.

Brief campaign overview:

Lobular Moon Shot Project (LMSP) founded in May 2023 by Dr Susan Michaelis. Susan is stage 4 Lobular
Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer (ILC) was discovered 80 years ago but still has no specific treatment and has had very little research
22 women are diagnosed with ILC in the UK every single day
ILC often doesn’t form a lump, it grows through tissue like a spider's web and is very difficult to see on imaging
ILC needs a 'moon shot' approach to research funding – a fast injection of cash similar to what happened at the start of Covid
In summer 2023 LMSP started lobbying the government to provide £20m for a five-year research project. Victoria Atkins who was the Health Secretary at the time said the government had ring fenced the £20m needed for the Lobular Moon Shot Project as part of her Women’s Health Strategy – she told Kay Burley this on Sky News in December 2024 - https://www.lobularmoonshot.org/media
Before the general election last year, the LMSP campaign had the support of 247 MPs. After the election campaigners had to start all over again and LMSP now has the support of over 350 MPs – the majority and is the most bi-partisan politically supported campaign in the United Kingdom.
LMSP is partnered with the Manchester Breast Centre who will carry out this vital Lobular Breast Cancer Research project over 5-years led by Professor Rob Clarke – see press release on the LMSP home page
On LMSP’s Instagram page, see a pinned video by Professor Rob Clarke, filmed on 6th May 2025 following an MP drop-in event at Portcullis House. Rob explains the framework of the project very clearly. Also see the pinned video by LMSP campaigner Kirstin Spencer who explains the difficulties campaigners have experienced explaining LMSP needs to the government - https://www.instagram.com/lobularmoonshotproject/
ILC is an unmet clinical need that will cost the NHS far more money without the understanding of the basic biology of this disease, which is what the five-year project will uncover. We need the government to take a different approach to this funding – a moon shot approach - and provide the £20m quickly so the project can finally get started