A joint message from the Cancer Cooperative Group Chairs and NCI Leadership

In response to the Institute of Medicine recommendations for reinvigorating the national cancer clinical trials infrastructure, the National Cancer Institute is recommending integrating existing cooperative groups by providing up to four grants for adult multidisciplinary groups plus one grant for a pediatric multidisciplinary group.

There are two primary goals for increased integration of the groups. The first is to promote scientific collaboration among laboratory and clinical investigators for the purpose of translating the science of cancer biology into improved therapeutic outcomes for patients. The second goal is to improve efficiency by integrating operational support for the groups, including protocol development, statistics and data management, and biobanking.

NCI and Cooperative Group leadership are working collaboratively to determine the most effective and flexible organizational structure to support the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine.

© Copyright 2012, NCCTG