The ASERF Scientific Research Committee and Board of Directors are pleased to announce the following grant award:

Researcher: Hooman Soltanian, MD

Grant Awarded: Allergan Foundation Breast and Cosmetic Medicine Grant

Amount Awarded: $25,000

Project Name: Determinants of Breast Appearance and Disorders in Identical Twins

Project Summary: The purpose of the current project is to evaluate the effect of environmental factors on breast aging, shape, and development of breast disorders such breast cancer by studying monozygotic twin sisters. The main hypothesis of this project is that there are environmental factors affecting the appearance of the women’s breast and development of disorders such as breast cancer. Acquired factors including number of pregnancies, history of nursing, use of contraceptive hormones, and use of braziers will be recorded (please see the attached questionnaire). The correlation between the environmental factors and occurrence of breast disorders and ptosis and other signs of aging will be analyzed. The current project will help clinicians gain a better understanding of the effect of the environmental factors on the age related changes of the breast appearance and development of other breast disorders. The results of the current study can be the basis for modification of the environmental factors to help women maintain a youthful breast appearance longer, modify risk factors for certain breast diseases, and possibly negate some of the inherited genetic influences.