National Cancer Centers
National Cancer Centers
http://a-mesothelioma-guide.com/cancer_centers.htm
Comprehensive Designation
The NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers are the nations leading institutes in the treatment of cancer, in research, and cancer education. In order to receive a "comprehensive" designation, a center must first secure a National Cancer Institute (NCI) peer reviewed Cancer Center Support Grant, which is the primary funding mechanism for an institution's cancer-related efforts.
The NCI's Cancer Center Support Review Committee (which is composed of non-federal scientific experts) must then determine if the institution meets specific criteria established for "comprehensiveness." Criteria considered include:
· Innovative patient-oriented research studies in the communities served
· A program of high-priority patient trials for therapies with unusual promise
· Strong core of basic laboratory research in several fields, such as biology, chemistry, immunology or molecular genetics
· Mechanism for transferring research findings into patient care a program of cancer-prevention and control research
· Program of research training an continuing education for health care professionals
· Wide range of cancer information services for patients, health professionals and the surrounding community
· Commitment to community service and outreach activities related to cancer prevention and control.
The National Cancer Advisory Board must recommend approval for a center to receive the comprehensive designation. The designation then comes up for renewal at three to five year intervals, and the above criteria must be met to retain the designation.
Each institution receiving a CCSG award is recognized as an NCI-designated Cancer Center.
There are two types of designations:
Cancer centers
have a scientific agenda that is primarily focused on basic, population sciences, or clinical research, or any two of the three components. They generally conduct a combination of basic, population sciences, and clinical research, and are encouraged to stimulate collaborative research involving more than one field of study. Several of these centers conduct only laboratory research and do not provide patient care.
The NCI-designated Cancer Centers that do provide patient care are also expected to conduct early-phase, innovative clinical trials and to participate in the NCI Cooperative Group Program.
Comprehensive cancer centers
conduct research and provide services directly to cancer patients. They integrate research activities across three major areas: laboratory, clinical and population-based research. Comprehensive Cancer Centers are expected to initiate and conduct early-phase, innovative clinical trials and to participate in the NCI’s cooperative groups by providing leadership and recruiting patients for trials. Comprehensive Cancer Centers must also conduct activities in outreach and education, and provide information on advances in health care for both health care professionals and the public.
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