National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers are the centerpiece of the nation’s effort to reduce morbidity and mortality from cancer. They are a major source of discovery about cancer and the development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. There are currently 63 NCI-designated cancer centers in the U.S. The NCI’s cancer centers support interactions between laboratory, clinical, and population scientists. A select number of these centers are also designated as comprehensive cancer centers. These serve as models of translational research by facilitating laboratory investigation of clinical observations and developing clinical and public health interventions from fundamental scientific discoveries. To decrease cancer incidence and mortality, centers link programs for prevention, early detection, treatment, palliation, and support developed within to health-service delivery systems outside. This happens via proactive dissemination programs, education for healthcare professionals and the public, and service delivery partnerships for underserved populations. To facilitate discovery and its translation into direct benefit to patients and the general public, the NCI awards Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSG) to institutions that have a critical mass of excellent cancer-relevant scientific research. The CCSG's emphasis on research derives from the NCI’s conviction that a culture of discovery, scientific excellence, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and collaboration generates a cascade of tangible benefits extending far beyond the generation of new knowledge. An NCI center’s research components supported by the CCSG comprise a core for a much larger assembly of cancer activities: clinical care; dissemination and education; and extending the benefits of research directly to patients, families, the public, and the agencies that serve them.
|
