NRG Oncology NCORP Research Base

The objective of this proposal is to maintain the NRG Oncology National Community Oncology
Research Program (NCORP) research base. NRG NCORP, comprised of a multi-disciplinary
team of investigators and patient advocates, is poised to carry out the following aims: 1)
designing and conducting cancer control research to mitigate cancer-related symptoms and
improve quality of life; 2) developing clinical trials to improve the effectiveness of cancer
prevention interventions and trials to evaluate biomarkers of risk of malignancies; 3) improving
cancer care delivery through multidisciplinary interventions throughout the continuum of cancer
from diagnosis, treatment and survivorship to palliative care; 4) integrating health care access
research questions into cancer prevention, control, cancer care delivery and therapeutic clinical
trials; 5) selecting and embedding patient reported outcomes in NCORP and NRG therapeutic
trials; 6) mentoring and training for the next generation of clinical cancer investigators. To meet
these goals, the group engages NCORP site members by holding regular in person and virtual
meetings; encouraging committee membership; including them as reviewers during NCORP
concept development and/or reviews: conducting concept site feasibility surveys: and appointing
NCORP site members as NCORP community co-chairs on NRG trials and NCI committees. To
operationalize our goals NRG NCORP participates fully in NRG Oncology leadership to
determine the scientific direction and prioritization of the NRG NCORP activities and resources.
With the NRG Statistical and Data Management Center (SDMC), this team will provide efficient,
methodologically up-to-date trial design with a focus on NCORP specific needs such as patient-
reported repeated longitudinal assessments and cluster-randomized designs. NRG NCORP will
provide study monitoring, reporting, and analysis; provide comprehensive data management
quality control and quality assurance programs to ensure high data integrity and timely data for
analysis; leverage cutting edge information technology emphasizing security, timeliness, and
efficiency of data collection and management; deliver RT credentialing and quality assurance;
and offer education and training for institutional Research Associates, Study Chairs, local
Principal Investigators and others involved in the NRG NCORP research agenda. Further, to
accomplish these aims NRG NCORP will engage fully with NCORP community physicians and
patient advocates as well as the NCI and other NCI-sponsored entities (cooperative groups,
cancer centers) to collaborate across the NCTN to improve cancer prevention and control,
cancer care and outcomes, and quality of life for patients affected by cancer.

Grant Number: 3UG1CA189867-11S1
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Deborah Bruner