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Climate change impacts and sustainability integration among breast international group members

S. O'Reilly, J. Griffiths, L. Fox, C. Weadick, Nay My Oo, L. Murphy, R. O’Leary, T. Goulioti et al.

Breast, 2025

4 citations

Abstract

Background Integration of sustainability measures into clinical research would translate into less healthcare related climate impacts. Methods We assessed climate change impacts, existing sustainability engagement, and challenges and facilitators to climate change mitigation strategies among Breast International Group (BIG) members. A 30 item web based survey assessing climate impacts, sustainability engagement, challenges to and facilitators of engagement, and sustainability integration in funding applications was developed, and circulated electronically between November 2023 and March 2024. Results Thirty four members (research groups and data centres) and participating sites across 5 continents, and BIG headquarters responded. Twenty six responses were received from 21 organisations, 20 from 17 participating sites. No responses were obtained from 28 groups. Trial conduct at a third of member groups had been impacted by climate change impacts such as destroyed infrastructure. 78 % of groups agreed that sustainability should feature in future funding applications. Most respondents engaged in sustainability initiatives at a host institute and organisational level. However, 39 % of coordinating centres and 65 % of representative sites had none within clinical trials conducted by their organisation. The majority of respondents foresaw challenges to sustainability engagement including competing time pressure, staff attitudes and resource constraints. Of nine potential…

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