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Lobular Breast Cancer: Moon Shot Project — [Wera Hobhouse in the Chair]
09 July 2026
Lead MP
John Milne
Responding Minister
Stephen Kinnock
Tags
Science & TechnologyNHS
Word Count: 12238
Other Contributors: 11
At a Glance
John Milne raised concerns about lobular breast cancer: moon shot project — [wera hobhouse in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I ask the Government to provide £20 million over five years for the Lobular Moon Shot Project, which aims to establish the fundamental biology of lobular breast cancer and pave the way for targeted treatments.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
I am concerned about the lack of specific treatment for lobular breast cancer, which affects over 8,000 women annually in the UK. The disease is currently treated using protocols designed for other forms of breast cancer despite significant biological differences. This leads to suboptimal outcomes and highlights the need for dedicated research.
Clive Jones
Lab
Delyn
It is a pleasure to serve under Mrs Hobhouse's chairship. He thanked his hon. Friend for securing the debate and paid tribute to Dr Susan Michaelis, who passed away one year ago after founding the Lobular Moon Shot Project in 2023. He highlighted that invasive lobular breast cancer affects between 7,500 and 8,000 people annually in the UK, with no specifically designed treatment for this form of breast cancer, leading to poorer outcomes. The project calls for £20 million over five years to fund targeted research, which would improve understanding of the disease and support the development of therapies.
I thank the hon. Member for Horsham for securing the debate and express support for my constituent Emma Hunwick's campaigning efforts on lobular breast cancer, emphasizing the need for progress in the next 12 months.
St Helens South and Westminster
Paid tribute to Dr Susan Michaelis, highlighting her career achievements in aviation safety and her diagnosis with lobular breast cancer which led to the creation of the Lobular Moon Shot Project. Emphasised that lobular breast cancer is difficult to detect through standard imaging techniques and called for regular MRI scans to improve early detection rates. I ask for more specific details regarding the Government's stance on ringfencing £20 million for research and whether proposals from the Lobular Moon Shot Project fall within this funding framework.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon commended the hon. Member for securing the debate and mentioned meetings with women in Northern Ireland who have lobular cancer, some of whom are critically ill. He asked if it was time for the Minister to allocate a small amount of money to alleviate health issues and fund research for women with lobular breast cancer.
Josh Newbury
Con
North Swindon
Praised the hon. Member for Horsham for leading the debate, highlighting Susan's final visit to Parliament and the briefing shared by her husband Tristan. Emphasised that early detection is crucial as invasive lobular breast cancer can grow silently without visible warning signs.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading East
Asked if Clive Jones was going to discuss medical training and education for doctors as well as public awareness campaigns on illnesses like invasive lobular breast cancer, highlighting their importance in addressing the issue effectively.
Dudley North
He acknowledged Dr Susan Michaelis' work and the challenge of detecting lobular breast cancer, which accounts for around 15% of cases. He emphasised the need to fund research accurately to improve detection, treatment, and surveillance through the Moon Shot Project, requesting a timeline from the government.
Sam Rushworth
Con
Bishop Auckland
Paying tribute to Katie Swinburne, a constituent with lobular breast cancer and her campaigner Susan Michaelis, Sam Rushworth emphasized the importance of solidarity among those campaigning for better research funding. He highlighted that 28% of cases are detected at stage one compared to 38% for non-lobular breast cancers and called on the Government to ensure competitive funding rounds are available through UK Research and Innovation. Asked if UKRI should issue a specific call for research proposals addressing known questions about invasive lobular breast cancer through competitive peer review. There is a need for the Government to specify certain research questions they want addressed beyond a peer-reviewed competitive process, potentially bridging the gap between campaign groups and official research funding channels.
Sarah Hall
Lab
Wigan
Mrs Hall shared the story of her constituent Trish, who was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer despite six mammograms over more than a decade. She emphasised that lobular breast cancer often does not form lumps and can be harder to detect on mammograms. Mrs Hall highlighted the need for better research into lobular breast cancer, earlier diagnosis, improved imaging techniques, and more effective treatments.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh North and Leith
Supports the campaign for better funding and research into lobular breast cancer, highlighting the rising incidence rate of nearly 3% annually. Stresses the importance of improving pre-clinical understanding and clinical trials specific to lobular breast cancer. Emphasises the need for a dedicated funding commitment from the Government to launch the Moon Shot Project. We have public concern about lobular breast cancer, similar to that seen with brain tumours, which necessitates investment in better bids or staff for research and treatment improvements.
Seamus Logan
SNP
Glasgow North East
Shared personal experiences of family members affected by breast cancer over decades, stressing the importance of investing in research to improve survival rates and quality of life. This is not a party-political issue; the shadow Minister and the whole House can agree on the importance of improving imaging kits with 3D mammography, which Scotland introduced in 2022. The Scottish Parliament recently supported allocating £20 million for the lobular breast cancer Moon Shot Project.
Government Response
Stephen Kinnock
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank the hon. Member for Horsham (John Milne) for securing this vital debate and the hon. Member for Maidstone and Malling (Helen Grant) for campaigning on this topic following her own diagnosis of lobular breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer accounts for 15% of breast cancer cases but is often undetected due to its unique characteristics, leading to later diagnosis and poorer outcomes. The Government recognises the importance of research into lobular breast cancer and has met with representatives from the Lobular Moon Shot Project to discuss advancing research. A scientific roundtable was hosted by Lord Vallance in June 2026 to identify opportunities for collaborative research and funding applications, including basic discovery science. Funding for lobular breast cancer research includes £1.36 million for a FAST MRI scan study jointly funded by the MRC and NIHR, and over £32 million from ICR and The Royal Marsden's NIHR Biomedical Research Centre to support translational research, precision diagnostics, and targeted clinical trials for tailored treatments. Additionally, breast cancer screening initiatives like EDITH are being evaluated with AI technology to improve early detection rates. The Government remains committed to open competition and peer review processes to ensure high-quality proposals receive funding without imposing financial targets or limits. Research funders stand ready to support interdisciplinary research in this important area.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.