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NCCN Oncology Research Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary by Closing in on $20 Million in Funding; Program Expands Into Developmental Therapies

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 April 2009, 08:00 CDT

The NCCN Oncology Research Program (ORP) nears the $20 million mark in total funding and enhances its current model to include funding for therapeutics in development as well as those already FDA-approved. The ORP draws on the expertise of investigators at 21 of the world's leading cancer centers (NCCN Member Institutions) in order to advance therapeutic options for patients with cancer

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Research Program (ORP) recently marked its 10-year anniversary by announcing that it is close to achieving $20 million in total funding since the inception of the program. The ORP also announced a new research model that expands their research focus into drugs in development to complement the current model that provides funding for FDA-approved therapies.

"NCCN is thrilled to have attained nearly $20 million in funding for research that seeks to reduce cancer-related deaths and improve the quality of life for patients by advancing innovative therapies through clinical trials at NCCN Member Institutions," says William T. McGivney, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. "By expanding the program to include therapies in development, NCCN continues to enhance its role in furthering the science of oncology by offering a more comprehensive set of services."

The NCCN ORP is organized to obtain funding to support investigator-initiated trials at NCCN Member Institutions that explore new avenues of clinical investigation to answer important scientific questions. Studies evaluate innovative combinations and sequencing regimens of drugs, mechanisms of action of specific agents, drug resistance, and extended uses for specific agents.

In addition to developing a successful model to support research enterprises at NCCN Member Institutions, the NCCN ORP organizes scientific advisory boards to evaluate potential uses of promising agents and provide expert advice on the best avenues of research to pursue.

The NCCN ORP was developed in 1999 and was initially named the Clinical Trials Network before evolving into the Oncology Research Program in 2005. By building a centralized clinical trials infrastructure in which supporters have access to premier experts and investigators at 21 of the world's leading cancer centers, NCCN looks to continue to provide patients with promising treatment through state-of-the-art clinical research trials.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world's leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives.

The NCCN Member Institutions are: City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA; Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center - Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH; Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, Memphis, TN; Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN.

For more information on NCCN, please visit NCCN.org.

SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Source: PR Newswire

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