Targeted Strategies to Improve Physician and Patient Access to Cancer Clinical Research

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Targeted Strategies to Improve Physician and
Patient Access to Cancer Clinical Research

• An Overview of Coalition Programs and Services
• Ruth Lambersky
• Senior Project Manager

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The Coalition

• A non-profit organization striving to improve
  physician and patient access to cancer clinical
  trials through
• Education
• Outreach
• Advocacy
• Research

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Who We Are

• Represent the interests of clinical researchers
  and cancer patients
• Led by chairs of 10 Cooperative Groups
• ACRIN Board Member Mitchell Schnall, M.D., Ph.D.
• Guided by Patient Advisory Board
• 2 Leads from each group
• 112 advocates throughout the groups
• 50 Advocate Organizations
• Scientific Leadership Councils
• in Breast, Lung Colorectal Cancers
• Funded through
• Grants and sponsorships from companies,
  government, and foundations
• Contracts with government and Fee-for-Service
  agreements with organizations and companies
• Member dues

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Main Public Message

• Cancer Clinical Trials are a treatment option to
  consider at the time of diagnosis and throughout
  a patients course of treatment because they
  provide the potential for cutting-edge medical
  treatment and the highest level of care.

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Programs and Services

• Regulatory Support for the Groups and their
  Physician Members
• Sub-Contractor to NCIs Cancer Trials Support
  Unit (CTSU)
• Central repository for Coop Group regulatory
  documentation
• TrialCheck
• Online navigation and matching system
• Free public service for all from a credible,
  reputable, non-profit
• Customizable for advocates, public health orgs
  and others (by fee)
• Scientific Leadership Councils
• Consensus forums to identify best direction for
  the science
• Known for naming High Priority trials currently
  underway
• Breeding ground for generation of new study
  concepts

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Programs and Services (contd)

• Advocacy Educational Services
• High quality science based training workshops for
  advocates at all levels
• Online self study modules for cancer research
  topics
• Consumer education for ongoing trials and
  emerging data
• Physician-physician CME programs
• Policy leadership at national level and across
  Groups
• Knowledge is Power!
• National awareness campaign with Newsweek and
  others
• Alpha Oncology - subsidiary clinical research
  organization

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Co-Sponsored Programs

• Clinical Trials Workshop
• For community-based researchers setting new
  programs or improving existing ones
• Co-Sponsored with ASCO and ONS
• ASCOs Annual Clinical Trial Participation Awards
  
• Sponsored by the Coalition
• Over 50 research sites have received the award
  since its inception
• For excellence in accrual, high quality audits,
  success in recruitment of minority populations
• Summit Series
• Issues forums among a network of 350 advocates
• Co-Sponsored with ASCO, ONS, Cancer Leadership
  Council and Prevent Cancer Foundation
• Guidance Documents
• Policy-focused guidance for lawmakers and
  advocates
• Elements of Success guidance for clinical
  research sites
• With C-Change, the Summit Series and The Lewin
  Group

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Putting high-quality information into the hands
of patients is our goal

• The vast majority of cancer treatment information
  in the public domain either describes clinical
  trials as a last resortor simply fails to
  mention clinical trials as a treatment option,
  thus most cancer patients never learn about the
  opportunity

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Coalition Websitewww.cancertrialshelp.org
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Cancer Trials Support Unit

• NCI Pilot Project initiated in 1999 and awarded
  to WESTAT and the Coalition
• Provides greater access to Phase III clinical
  trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute
  (NCI)
• Performs comprehensive clinical trials management
  that will ease and facilitate participation by
  investigators and provide quality data to the
  Cooperative Groups
• Serves as the interface between the operational,
  statistical and data management centers of the
  Cooperative Groups and the network of
  investigators enrolling patients
• 76 active protocols from the Adult Cooperative
  Groups, NCI Cancer Consortia, DCP
• Coalition processes all regulatory documentation
  for the Adult Cooperative Group Studies

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www.ctsu.org
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• Alpha Oncology is a contract research
  organization (CRO) that provides oncology
  clinical trial and site management services that
  enhance interactions between industry and
  Cooperative Group Members.
• Services provided for the cooperative groups to
  date
• Data Sweeping
• Query Resolution
• Scan Collection

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