SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW OF CANCER RESEARCH APPLICATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 25, 2012 --

Washington, D. C. - January 2012 Cancer advocate Michael Lawing of Forest City, North Carolina participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) sponsored by the Department of Defense. Lawing was nominated for participation in the program by the Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) of Chicago, Illinois. www.kidneycancer.org As a consumer reviewer, he was a full voting member, along with prominent scientists, at meetings to help determine how the $16 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2011 (FY2011) will be spent on future Cancer research.

Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients, family members, and persons at risk for cancer when they prepare comments on the impact of the research on issues such as disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Commenting on serving as a Consumer Reviewer, Lawing said that “this is a tremendous opportunity to present the voice and needs of the cancer patient to the research community.”

Consumer advocates and scientists have worked together since 2009 in this unique partnership to evaluate the scientific merit of cancer research applications focused on specifically designated cancers with the relevance to military service members and their families and the American public. To date, 65 Consumer Reviewers have served on peer reviewed cancer research panels. Col. Jeffrey C Leggit, M. D., Director of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, expressed his appreciation for the perspectives of the consumer advocates in the scientific review sessions. “The Consumer Reviewers on each panel are instrumental in helping the scientists understand the patient's perspective and provide valuable insight into the potential impact of the proposed project. They bring with them a sense of urgency and remind all of the human element involved in medical research.”

More than 841 research applications were reviewed for 2011 fiscal year funds. The mission of the PRCRP is to foster the next generation of cancer research by providing new investigators and their early career mentors opportunities to excel in groundbreaking cutting-edge research.

More information about the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program is available at the website: http://cdmrp.army.mil or by contacting Gail Whitehead, CDMRP Public Affairs Office at 301-619-7783 gail.whitehead@amedd.army.mil

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