Cancer Cooperative Groups now National Clinical Trial Network
The National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) formerly known as the Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program, is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCTN is designed to promote and support clinical trials (research studies) of new cancer treatments, explore methods of cancer prevention and early detection, and study quality-of-life issues and rehabilitation during and after treatment.
Cooperative groups include researchers, cancer centers, and community physicians. They work with NCI to identify important questions in cancer research and to design clinical trials to answer these questions. The nine former adult Cooperative Groups have consolidated into four adult groups in the NCTN. In addition, as was the case under the previous clinical trials system, another large group is focused solely on childhood cancers. The structure also includes a Canadian Collaborating Clinical Trials Network award.
Mary Lou Smith, Co-Founder of Research Advocacy Network has served on the NCTN Working Group. The Working Group recently published their final report. The Report can be accessed at: http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/ctac/0714/index.htm.
(Updated 8/12/2014)