News Details
NCCN Collaborates with Pfizer on Program Focused on Health Care Quality Improvement and Education
NCCN and Pfizer will elicit proposals for quality improvement and education in rare cancer types; Grants to provide funding for approximately nine proposals focused on patients with renal cell carcinoma or hematologic malignancies
FORT WASHINGTON, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Oncology Research Program (ORP) is collaborating with Pfizer Independent Grants for Learning & Change (IGLC) to establish a peer-reviewed grant program to elicit proposals focused on health care quality improvement and education projects. As part of this program, the NCCN ORP and Pfizer will jointly issue a Request for Proposals (RFP), focused on the development and adoption of evidence-based initiatives to improve patient care and outcomes in renal cell carcinoma and hematologic malignancies.
The intent of the RFP is to encourage academic and community-based organizations to submit proposals describing concepts and ideas for design and implementation of systems or programs that close clinical practice gaps and improve the care of patients with rare cancer types through the establishment of education and support mechanisms for community oncologists. It is expected that grants will fund approximately nine projects.
“NCCN is pleased to collaborate with Pfizer in this effort,” said Joan S. McClure, MS, Senior Vice President, Clinical Information and Publications, NCCN. “Together, we will identify and fund projects that interweave patient support and information, health care systems issues, and broadening of clinician knowledge base to improve the quality of care for individuals with rare cancers.”
The NCCN ORP and Pfizer will announce an RFP seeking concepts for initiatives focusing on the following areas where there are gaps in care:
- Health care provider education and incorporation of education into practice
- Provider/patient communications and treatment decision-making
- Increasing the use of evidence-based recommendations for management of renal cell carcinoma or hematologic malignancies
- Information related to patient assistance programs and other patient-centered resources
Organizations may submit for one of two categories: renal cell carcinoma or hematologic malignancies, which will include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL).
For the first time in its history, the NCCN ORP will draw upon the expertise of investigators not only from the 23 NCCN Member Institutions, but from all cancer centers across the United States, including both academic and community settings.
The NCCN ORP, organized to obtain funding to support scientifically meritorious research studies at NCCN Member Institutions, will be the lead organization for review and evaluation of applications. A review committee, led by NCCN and including a medical representative from Pfizer, will make decisions on which proposals will receive funding. Grant funding will be provided by Pfizer IGLC.