ASCO Research Community Forum
The ASCO Research Community Forum (RCF) Annual Meeting was held September 24–25, with the theme of Advancing Cancer Care Through Research Partnerships. The RCF Annual Meeting brings together ASCO leaders, regulatory experts, physician investigators, and research staff to examine current barriers in research and identify solutions to overcome challenges—ultimately enhancing patient enrollment in cancer studies.
Nearly 120 participants attended the meeting, which included:
- Two new workshops on insurance coverage for clinical trials and precision medicine
- Keynote address by ASCO President-Elect Monica Bertagnolli, MD
- Presentations on the impact of policy and regulatory updates on cancer research, overcoming administrative burden, and building strategic research partnerships, among others
- Breakout sessions to collaborate on solutions to address key issues facing research sites today.
Proposals from the meeting will help shape ASCO and the RCF’s efforts and activities in the coming year.
Monica Bertagnolli, MD
The 2018 ASCO Research Community Forum Annual Meeting will be held September 23–24, 2018. Learn more at www.asco.org/research-progress/research-community-forum.
2017 ASCO Advocacy Summit
Close to 100 ASCO volunteers came to Capitol Hill on September 27–28 for the ASCO Advocacy Summit, where they urged Congress to act on major policy priorities to improve research and access to treatment for the more than 15.5 million people in the United States living with a history of cancer.
ASCO volunteers asked policymakers to:
- Stop a proposal that would apply Merit-Based Incentive Payment System adjustments to Part B costs
- Support oral parity by passing the Cancer Drug Parity Act
- Increase funding for the National Institutes of Health by $2 billion.
Leonard Lance
Robin Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO
During the Summit, ASCO presented its Congressional Leadership Award to Representative Leonard Lance (NJ-7), to recognize his commitment to advancing policies to improve research and treatment for people with cancer. ASCO also presented its Advocate of the Year Award to Robin Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, for her significant advocacy work on behalf of individuals living with cancer and their cancer care teams.
Stay connected to all of the policies affecting cancer research and care through ASCO in Action. ■
© 2017. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
