NCCN Holds Oncology Research Best Practices Conference

NCCN is holding the NCCN Oncology Research Best Practices Conference™, an interactive forum to discuss the regulatory and operational aspects of research and help identify areas in the clinical trial process where improvements can be made. Scheduled for October 26 – 27 in Bethesda, MD, the conference will include lectures, interactive workshops, and panel discussions on topics that challenge the conduct of oncology research as well as topics related to ethical considerations.

September 14, 2009

FORT WASHINGTON, PA — Significant strides in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer have been made possible through clinical trials, however regulatory and ethical issues can pose challenges to clinical investigators. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers, is drawing on its collective expertise and holding the NCCN Oncology Research Best Practices Conference™ to review and discuss regulatory and operational aspects of research and help identify areas in the clinical trial process where improvements can be made.

The two-day conference being held October 26 – 27 in Bethesda, MD, will include lectures, interactive workshops, and panel discussions with audience participation on topics that challenge the conduct of oncology research as well as topics related to ethical considerations and maintaining and improving regulatory compliance. Attendees will learn about innovative practices and organizational structures that work and new ideas and perspectives that will lead to increased productivity and quality.

The conference is designed to be interactive and meet the needs of a multidisciplinary audience including oncology researchers, research nurses, Institutional Review Board (IRB) professionals, research administrators, academics, ethicists, government regulators, and industry sponsors on best practices in oncology research.

NCCN recognizes the importance of investing in clinical trials, which can result in changes in the standard of care and improved patient outcomes. Through the NCCN Oncology Research Program (ORP), more than $20 million of funding has been obtained to support investigator-initiated trials at NCCN Member Institutions to explore new avenues of clinical investigation and answer important scientific questions. The NCCN ORP recently launched a new platform, the Drug Development Research Grant Model that provides a mechanism for research on drugs in early stages of development.

Complete program details and online registration for the NCCN Oncology Research Best Practices Conference™ are available at NCCN.org.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), a not-for-profit alliance of 23 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. For more information, visit NCCN.org.

The NCCN Member Institutions are:

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Duke Cancer Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center / Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Stanford Cancer Institute
University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center