American Cancer Society Seeks Cancer Survivors To Participate in Research Grant Approval Process

American Cancer Society
Tuesday, 16 April 2002

The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health organization, is seeking cancer survivors and other cancer stakeholders to serve on peer review committees that would take part in the research grant approval process.

"No one can truly claim a higher stake in cancer research than one who has survived the disease or has otherwise been profoundly touched by cancer," said Harmon J. Eyre, M.D., national chief medical officer and executive vice president for Research and Cancer Control at the American Cancer Society. "The addition of cancer survivors, family members of cancer patients, caregivers, American Cancer Society volunteers and other non-scientists brings passion and perspective to the research grant process."

Stakeholders are selected from the public across the country, then trained and assigned to one or more of the 17 Peer Review Committees in the Extramural Grants Division charged with reviewing grant applications. In addition to the stakeholders, the committees are each comprised of about five to twenty-five research scientists and physicians considered experts in their respective fields.

Since the American Cancer Society's Research and Training program began in 1946, it has grown to become the largest source of non-government funding for cancer research in the United States. Each year, the program allocates more than $115 million toward research, leading to primary contributions in cancer diagnosis and Treatment. Over the years, the program has also provided research funding support for the early work of 32 Nobel Prize winners. At the core of this highly successful cancer research and training program is the peer review process.

The stakeholders program of the American Cancer Society ensures that every research proposal submitted to the Society will be reviewed, not only by scientists, but also by those more directly impacted by breakthroughs in cancer research, even if they have little or no formal scientific training.

"Stakeholders bring an invaluable perspective to help decide how best to allocate the funds that the Society earmarks for cancer research. More than 1,600 applications are submitted for research dollars each year," said Dr. Eyre. For those interested in becoming a stakeholder in the American Cancer Society peer review process, nominations should be sent to David P. Ringer, PhD., MPH, Scientific Program Director, Research Department, American Cancer Society, National Home Office, 1599 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329-4251. Dr. Ringer can be faxed at 404-321-4669 or emailed at david.ringer@cancer.org

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org