We initiated the collaborative research program “international breast cancer & nutrition” (IBCN) in 2010 (1), responding to the increasing trends in breast cancer (BC) incidence globally (2–4). World-wide there are many similarities, including the increasing incidence of BC in young women, which demands more research on changing environmental exposures and transitions, such as increasing obesity, shifting diets and lower fertility. This special issue has been dedicated to what the IBCN considers at the heart of the problem, namely the interplay between BC susceptibility genes and the environment (5). The articles outlined below illustrate the importance of transdisciplinary approaches and networks and fall into four categories that warrant attention to reduce the global burden of disease: (1) lifestyle modifiers of risk; (2) early detection and risk reduction; (3) new avenues in research; and (4) economic benefits of global BC prevention...