University of California San Francisco

Drs. Elisabeth Abeles and Rita Mukhtar have been awarded Research Development Grant

UCSF Department of Surgery
December 8, 2025
Research Fellow Dr. Elisabeth Abeles, M.D. (University of California, San Francisco Lobular Breast Cancer Research Program) and Surgical Oncologist Dr. Rita Mukhtar, whose innovative work has been awarded a $50,000 Research Development Grant through the UCSF Breast Oncology Program.

The UCSF Department of Surgery proud to recognize Research Fellow Dr. Elisabeth Abeles, M.D. (University of California, San Francisco Lobular Breast Cancer Research Program) and Surgical Oncologist Dr. Rita Mukhtar, whose innovative work has been awarded a $50,000 Research Development Grant through the UCSF Breast Oncology Program.

Their project, “A pilot study evaluating fibroblast activating protein (FAP) PET for imaging disease progression in patients with metastatic invasive lobular carcinoma: a PLUMB sub-study,” advances a novel imaging approach for a breast cancer subtype that remains challenging to detect and monitor with traditional tools.

Embedded within the groundbreaking PLUMB Study—a multicenter effort redefining how metastatic lobular breast cancer is tracked and understood—this work has the potential to strengthen diagnostic accuracy and meaningfully improve patient care.

A significant and well-earned accomplishment for Dr. Abeles, Dr. Mukhtar, and the PLUMB research team.