Translating research into evidence-based practice: the National Cancer Institute Community Clinical Oncology Program

Abstract

The recent rapid acceleration of basic science is reshaping both our clinical research system and our healthcare delivery system. The pace and growing volume of medical discoveries are yielding exciting new opportunities, yet we continue to face old challenges to maintain research progress and effectively translate research into practice. The National Institutes of Health and individual government programs increasingly are emphasizing research agendas that involve evidence development, comparative-effectiveness research among heterogeneous populations, translational research, and accelerating the translation of research into evidence-based practice as well as building successful research networks to support these efforts. For more than 25 years, the National Cancer Institute Community Clinical Oncology Program has successfully extended research into the community and facilitated the translation of research into evidence-based practice. By describing its keys to success, this article provides practical guidance to cancer-focused, provider-based research networks as well as those in other disciplines.

Figure 1

NCI Trial Accrual 1998-2008: CCOP program vs. all other NCI accrual, 1991-2008.

Figure 2

CCOP Program funding and average per-CCOP funding, 1998-2008.

Figure 3

2007-2008 CCOP and MBCCOP accrual: Caucasians and Racial/Ethnic Minorities