|
|
Setting Priorities for Cancer Research
Research on cancer involves activities from the most fundamental laboratory research to large-scale studies of cancer prevention and treatment methods. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) must decide what research areas to fund for instance, what kinds of laboratory research, which types of treatment research through a process that involves numerous groups and individuals around the country.
The decisions rest on two guiding principles: Scientific Opportunity. What research areas and projects have the greatest potential to expand our knowledge? The answer to this question comes primarily from the scientists themselves, working in hundreds of academic, medical, public, and private research institutions around the country. For example, individual scientists have proposed studies that revealed links between specific genes and cancer. They made these proposals based on the opportunity created through previous findings and new laboratory techniques to understand precisely what happens in a cell when it becomes cancerous. With this understanding have come opportunities to apply the discoveries to the prevention and treatment of cancer. For instance, once scientists know the specific steps through which a gene alteration leads to cancer, they see opportunities to design drugs that may block one or more of those steps and put a stop to the cancer-causing process.
The Burden of Cancer. The second critical factor that guides research funding is the degree to which specific cancers affect Americans. For example, lung and colon cancer, which account for high numbers of cancer deaths each year, are among NCI's priorities. It is not always easy to separate research priorities in this way. This is because research on one kind of cancer frequently offers insights into another. For instance, breast and prostate cancer both involve cells affected by hormones. As a result, research on the hormonal aspects of one may well provide clues to the other. In setting research priorities, NCI collects information and advice from many members of the public, including patients, practicing physicians, voluntary groups, and researchers. Advisory groups, workshops, and meetings provide continuing opportunities for public input. Turn this page over for a brief outline of the people involved in setting NCI's priorities.
Setting Priorities for Cancer Research
Individual Scientists. To foster the best ideas as to what will yield progress against cancer, NCI offers researchers throughout the country the opportunity to compete for NCI funding. Most cancer research dollars go to scientists and physicians whose ideas are evaluated through a competitive peer review process. Peer Reviewers. These are scientists who review and evaluate research ideas proposed by other scientists, and rank the proposals by priority or importance.
The Director of NCI identifies opportunities and priorities in consultation with Institute staff and many others. NCI's bypass budget, prepared annually and submitted directly to the president for review andtransmittal to Congress, articulates a scientific vision for the Institute that looks forward several years. NCI's Board of Scientific Advisors appraises and makes recommendations for extramural programs while its Board of Scientific Counselors reviews and advises on intramural research. Both include members of the lay community, as well as leading scientists from outside NCI. NCI's Executive Committee, along with the NCI director, coordinates intramural and extramural research to ensure that the Institute is taking a comprehensive approach to cancer. Made up of NCI's top scientific leadership plus the chairpersons of certain outside advisory groups, the Executive Committee provides overall strategic direction. The President's Cancer Panel holds public hearings and other meetings, providing additional opportunity for input from the medical and scientific community and from the public. Advisory and Working Groups, made up of experts from inside and outside the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including cancer survivors, review and make recommendations for research in specific areas, such as clinical research, cancer genetics, and cancers associated with AIDS.
The Cancer Information Service provides a nationwide telephone service for cancer patients, and their families, the public, and health care professionals. The toll-free number is 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237); services are provided in English and Spanish. People with TTY equipment may call 1-800-332-8615. |
