The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ (CDMPR), Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) consumer advocate Jessica Blackford-Cleeton recently participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to the RCRP. Jessica was nominated for participation in the program by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. As a consumer reviewer, she was a full voting member, along with prominent scientists, at meetings to help determine how the $7.5 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2020 will be spent on cancer research.
Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients by preparing comments on the impact of the research on issues such as diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life.
The U.S. Congress established the Rare Cancers Research Program in the FY20 Department of Defense appropriation. With this new program, consumer advocates and scientists work together in this unique partnership to evaluate the scientific merit of research applications. COL Sarah B. Goldman, Director of the CDMRP, expressed her appreciation for the consumer advocates’ hard work. “Integrating consumer perspectives into our decision-making process brings energy and focus to our research programs. Patients, caregivers, family members, and advocates help us keep our efforts centers around what is truly important to those impacted. We very much value this critical input from our consumers who help ensure the CDMRP’s work remains critical and relevant,” she said.
Scientists applying propose to greatly improve outcomes for people with rare cancers through discovery, community building, and expansion of knowledge across the cancer landscape. The RCRP fills important gaps not addressed by other funding agencies by supporting groundbreaking research while encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.
More information about the CDMRP’s RCRP is available at cdmrp.army.mil/rcrp/default.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to eradicate mesothelioma and end this national tragedy. Its programs include the funding of promising and peer-reviewed research, education, support and advocacy. The organization strives to bring together thought-leaders in the field to identify the most direct path to a cure.
