The prevalence of breast cancer within the Gulf Region continues to present challenges to healthcare services. Knowledge about the strategies that can be used to prevent and manage breast cancer is now extensive. Key factors in the early detection of patients with breast cancer have been identified but much research remains to be done. Think Pink Bahrain have been established and operational for 16 years. Registered as an NGO with the Ministry of Labour & Social Development, our mission and vision has been developed to build on a collective voice for awareness, research visibility and consumer advocacy. Think Pink Bahrain has established a research fund which will provide financial support to local researchers to enable them to conduct high-quality research which is relevant to the population of Bahrain and the wider Gulf Region.

Research was the third pillar that was added to the Charity after the installation of the MRI Fund. Best practice and that which is evidence based, has been crucial in the direction of the Charity. A very small part of the Kingdoms Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent on research each year, and in terms of breast cancer research we wanted to be the change agents for that.  Think Pink Bahrain is dedicated to:

  • Match research priorities in relation to breast cancer
  • Patient centred approach
  • Serving to meet and identify the local gaps
  • Enabling a translation into practice
  • Utilisation of guidelines and health policy systems
  • Validation
  • Global, regional and local systematic reviews

Currently the Charity is looking at organising a grants advisory board- which is a committee made up of socially and academically conscious people, dedicated to facilitating this process and the strategic implementation of Think Pink Bahrain’s mission and vision- building on a collective voice for awareness, research visibility and consumer advocacy.  They generously give their time with no financial incentives given. Transparent and unbiased- all members follow best practice and are per reviewed. The research grants are solely funded by Think Pink Bahrain and the funds raised for the grants are to be utilised within the Kingdom for local research.

Genetic Variants

Al Hannan, F., Keigh, M.B., Taha, S. and Al Buainain, L. (2019). Characterization of BRCA 1 and BRCA2 genetic variants in a cohort of Bahraini breast cancer patients using next- generation sequencing. Journal of Molecular Genetics and Genomic Medicine. Jul; 7(7): e00771
doi:10.1002/mgg3.77

National Breast Cancer Guidelines

Sprakel, J., Carrara, H., Alper, B and Fedorowicz. (2019). A mapping study and recommendations for a joint NGO (Think Pink) and Bahrain Government Breast Cancer project. Journal of Evidence Based Medicine. 12(3): 209-217.
doi: 10.1111/jemb.12357

Assessment of guidelines using AGREE II

Eady, A., Layton, A.M., Sprakel, J., Arents, B.W.M., Fedorowicz, Z and van Zuuren, E.J. (2017). AGREE II assessments of recent acne treatment guidelines: how well do they reveal trustworthiness as defined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria? British Journal of Dermatology.
doi: 10.1111/bjd.15777

2019
EBM Live 2019- Oxford University

“Walking the Talk- a real-world experience developing a clinical practice guideline for Bahrain”
(Sprakel, Carrara, Alper Fedorowicz)
DOI:10.1136/bmjebm-2019-EBMLive.20

Advocacy League- World Health Organisation- Cairo, Egypt

“Think Pink- the Development, Actions and Milestones of an Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in 2018”
(Sprakel)

2017:
Global Evidence Summit: Using Evidence, Improving Lives- Cape Town, South Africa

“Sharing resources to develop a guideline with little direct cost: the Bahrain evidence- based Guideline Initiative (B.E.G-I-N) experience”
(Sprakel, Carrara, Alper, Birido, Al Alawai and Fedorowicz)

Global Evidence Summit: Using Evidence, Improving Lives- Cape Town, South Africa

“Using PICO to establish a framework for a comprehensive clinical guideline”
(Alper, Troyan, Sprakel, van Zuuren , Birido, Dellisanti and Fedorowicz)

2016:
Bahrain Breast Cancer Forum:

A National and International perspective of breast cancer detection and screening Manama, Bahrain

“Bahrain Breast Cancer Guideline; development process and status”
(Sprakel)

European Commission Breast Cancer Plenary:

When Science and Policy collaborate Varsese, Italy

“A breast cancer clinical guideline for the Kingdom of Bahrain”
(Sprakel, Al Alawi and Fedorowicz)

10th European Breast Cancer Conference- Amsterdam, Netherlands

“Breast cancer survivorship in the Arab world: A phenomenological study of Arab experiences post- diagnosis“

(abstract for publication in European CanCer Organisation, Circulation 2016- Sprakel abstract 130)

2012
20th Cochrane Colloquium- Auckland, New Zealand

“Think Pink’ Bahrain and The Cochrane Collaboration: raising awareness among breast cancer survivors and clinicians to the evidence base for decision making”

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