Research Team (RES)

Philip Lazarus, PhD, Associate Director, Penn State Cancer Institute – Team Chair

An important thread that runs through the major goals across the cancer continuum is research. Thorough and thoughtful research will provide the insights and guidance for implementing new and promising approaches to cancer control and for revising, restructuring, or abandoning those approaches that have not been effective.

Rapid progress and success in all areas will depend on harnessing all of the impressive research expertise in the Commonwealth. To do this, we must establish strong collaborative relationships and continuous communication among the research institutions and investigators. Sufficient funding for these important initiatives will be required. If we are to make a truly major impact on Pennsylvania's cancer statistics, research is needed to not only develop better diagnostic, preventive and treatment methods, but also identify and track what people are doing, why they are doing it, and which interventions are most effective to improve cancer-related behaviors and outcomes. We must follow by finding ways to provide the most promising approaches to all relevant people throughout the state.

Previous RES Team Meetings and Materials

• September 27, 2007: Conference Call – View Minutes
• March 15, 2007: Conference Call – View Minutes
• January 12, 2007: Conference Call – View Minutes
• November 29, 2006: The Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, Harrisburg, PA – View Minutes
• September 29, 2006: Penn Stater Conference Center & Hotel, State College, PA – View Minutes
• August 31, 2006: Conference Call – View Minutes
• February 28, 2006: Conference Call – View Minutes
• September 9, 2005: Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center, Harrisburg, PA
  • View Minutes from General Session
  • View Minutes from RES Team Meeting
• May 13, 2005: Holiday Inn East, Harrisburg, PA – View Minutes

RES Team Initiatives

• Maintain and increase research funding through information dissemination to key government leaders, PA Cancer Alliances, and PAC³ website.
• Generate research on risk factor information through greater utilization of the PA Cancer Registry.
• Development of PA Clinical Trials Network (funded by C-Change/in progress).

Useful Websites

One of PAC³'s Core Goals, as stated in the Mission and Vision Statement, is to "Establish an infrastructure to support and assure the rapid transfer of research findings into practice." With that in mind, PAC³ strives to recognize and present, through its website, resources aiming to share information that will lead to the realization of this goal. The below resources have been identified:

• Research Guide from the CDC Office of Public Health Research - The CDC has announced the publication of Advancing the Nation's Health: A Guide to Public Health Research Needs,2006-2015 (formerly known as the Health Protection Research Guide, 2006-2015 and referred to as the Research Guide). The Research Guide is a comprehensive public health research compendium developed by CDC scientists and external partners through extensive public engagement.
• The Pennsylvania Clinical Trials Network – A pilot program developed by PAC³, in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and sponsored through a grant from C-Change, to have innovative investigator-initiated trials available to accrual throughout Pennsylvania.
• NCI Cancer Statistics – The National Cancer Institute's comprehensive resource for cancer-related information and statistics.
• Recent Developments in Clinical Trials – The National Cancer Institute's online resource for current information on trends in clinical research.
• NCI Fact Sheets – The National Cancer Institute's fact sheet collection addresses a variety of cancer topics. Fact sheets are frequently updated and revised based on the latest cancer research.
• EpiQMS – The Pennsylvania Department of Health's interactive health statistics web tool.
• Bureau of Health Statistics and Research – PA Dept. of Health
• Cancer Incidence Standard Output Reports – 1990-2003 Cancer Incidence & 1990-2004 Mortality Statistics – PA Dept. of Health
• Pennsylvania Cancer Facts and Figures, 2005 – PA Dept. of Health
• Pennsylvania Cancer Facts and Figures, 2006 – PA Dept. of Health
• Cancer Death and Incidence Report, 2006 – American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, National Cancer Institute
• Biomarker Data – Pennsylvania Cancer Alliance Bioinformatics Consortium (PCABC)
• Enhancing Cancer Treatment through Improved Understanding of the Critical Components, Economics, and Barriers of Cancer Clinical Trials – A policy-focused guidance document commissioned by C-Change and the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is offering a free activity, Bringing Cures to All Patients: Addressing Diversity in Clinical Trials, that consists of two Lecture Presentations, a Learning Assessment, and an Evaluation form. The content of this virtual lecture is derived from a satellite symposium presented in conjunction with the Oncology Nursing Society 32nd Annual Congress and addresses barriers to recruitment and retention of underserved populations in cancer clinical trials and provide strategies for healthcare professionals to better serve these patients.
• ENACCT – Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials – ENACCT is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 with the mission to identify, implement and validate innovative community centered approaches to cancer clinical trials education.

PAC³ will be updating this list as often as possible. Should there be any other informational resources that make strides in achieving PAC³'s priority goal to Provide all Pennsylvanians with access to high-quality, accurate, and current information based on individual and population factors for all aspects of cancer, from prevention to end-of-life care, please contact the PAC³ Coordinating Office to inquire about listing that resource on the PAC³ website.