Abstract P5-10-01: Patient advocates as partners in breast cancer research at Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Authors: Brundage S , Charles Chisholm D , Holloway JN , Lucas W , Salamone J , Winarsky S , London M , Greenwood N , Stahl S , Carbine N , Goyes R , Price E , Ernst E , Leventhal K-G , Isaacs C , Clarke R , Shajahan-Haq AN 
Published: May 2016

The integration of patient advocate input into biomedical research grant proposals is a relatively new phenomenon and represents a paradigm shift for basic, translational and clinical researchers seeking funding for their proposed studies. In 2011, the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) at Georgetown University (GU) established the Georgetown Breast Cancer Advocates (GBCA) to facilitate collaboration between researchers and advocates. The mission of GBCA is to ensure research is patient-centered, innovative, evidence-based, and accessible. Working with researchers and clinicians at GU-LCCC early in proposal development, the members of the GBCA evaluate the feasibility of research, emphasizing the need for bench-to-bedside studies, the importance of quality of life, health care disparities and a reduction in breast cancer mortality. This integrated and early approach has resulted in GU-LCCC researchers being awarded a PCORI Grant, a DOD Idea Expansion Award, and a prestigious NIH U01 award.

The GBCA consists of survivors and community stakeholders from diverse ethnic, racial, and age groups. It ranges from women at high risk for breast cancer to both short- and long-term survivors of various sub-types of breast cancer and those with recurrent disease. Several advocates were trained by the National Breast Cancer Coalition's scientific education program, Project LEAD, and others participate in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocates in Science Program. Members have served as consumer reviewers for the DOD's Breast Cancer Research Program at both the peer review and programmatic review levels, and as patient representatives on American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical practice guideline panels. GU-LCCC researchers and oncologists serve as advisors for the group.

This poster describes the evolution and work of the GBCA and how the group has influenced breast cancer research at GU-LCCC. GBCA works with researchers in the pre-award phase, providing input to investigators regarding methodologies to increase participant recruitment, retention, and adherence to research protocols. The advocates also provide input on study designs and patient education strategies. Through their contributions, the advocates have become an integral and respected part of the breast cancer research community at GU-LCCC.

Citation Format: Brundage S, Charles Chisholm D, Holloway JN, Lucas W, Salamone J, Winarsky S, London M, Greenwood N, Stahl S, Carbine N, Goyes R, Price E, Ernst E, Leventhal K-G, Isaacs C, Clarke R, Shajahan-Haq AN. Patient advocates as partners in breast cancer research at Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-10-01.