Established Programs
A handful of programs have been implemented to develop relationships between cancer research trainees and patients (and/or patient advocates).
Chicago Gynecologic Cancer Researcher-Survivor Summit
This initial summit is designed to bring together researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, cancer survivors interested in gynecologic cancer research in ovarian, uterine (endometrial), and cervical cancers. They hope to create a dynamic and diverse group of scientists and patients to understand and promote shared priorities in gynecologic cancer research.
The mission is to create a space and ongoing platform to promote bi-directional understanding of both:
(1) The survivor experience: personal perspectives, priorities and expertise of people who have had close personal experiences can be harnessed and better inform research efforts
(2) The researcher experience: sharing the science and specific research areas to promote understanding of research topics, clinical trials, and areas of new discovery, sharing the challenges of research funding and support.
This event took place on Saturday February 29, 2020
Georgetown University
The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington DC trains PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. Each summer, the graduate students and postdocs host an annual retreat to improve camaraderie and promote career development.
During the summer of 2019, the tumor biology program hosted the first CTAP during the retreat. Patient advocates arrived around 1:00. Following an introduction about the value of working together, advocates and trainees split into groups. There was a list of questions on each table and the trainees and advocates took turns asking each other questions. Starting at 2:00, the trainees held a poster session near their labs. Advocates attended the poster session and had lab tours.
