PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

Cancer Expert Corps

Contact:

Jean Lynn, R.N., M.P.H., O.C.N.
301-496-5457, lynnje@mail.nih.gov

The Cancer Expert Corps (CEC) is a concept under development with a planned launch in 2008. It is a global initiative that will improve the quality of life of cancer patients (with direct applicability to other diseases) by bringing protocol-based treatment (and ultimately the possibility for participation in cancer clinical trials), education, and mentoring to underserved populations in the U.S. and world wide. It is a “Peace Corps for Cancer.”

The three components of the CEC are:

• Medical facilities/locations serving underserved populations (called “Recipients”) who are interested in participating and investing in improving the quality of care/life for their affected citizens

• CEC Expert Panels comprised of international experts from a broad range of oncology disciplines and healthcare delivery services that provide the mentoring for the Recipients based on long-term, person-to-person connectivity

• Hubs, or infrastructure, located worldwide to coordinate the Recipient-Expert linkage so that their time is spent on mentoring and education

CEC will be launched with the Foundation for the NIH as a public-private partnership.