Georgia NCI Community Oncology Research Program
A novel research program puts cutting-edge treatments and studies within reach of more Georgians
THE PROBLEM: For cancer care to improve in our state, more Georgians must be able to participate in promising new treatments or studies that help prevent and control cancer.
Such programs are typically offered in cancer centers in high-populated areas; so historically, they’ve been out of reach to many Georgians. And in places where they were offered, many under-served populations weren’t aware they existed. Until now.
THE PROGRAM: GA NCORP is part of a larger national effort developed by the National Cancer Institute, or NCI.
Started in 2014, Georgia NCORP is a collaboration between Georgia CORE, Northside Hospital Cancer Institute in Atlanta, and the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler in Savannah. From 2014-2018, approximately 30,000 patients nationwide were enrolled in NCI clinical trials through the NCORP sites. After a successful first five years, the statewide cancer research consortium has been awarded an $11 million, six-year renewal grant for cancer research.
Georgia CORE oordinates the participation of network affiliates — John B. Amos Cancer Center in Columbus; Harbin Clinic in Rome; Peyton Anderson Cancer Center Navicent Health in Macon; Cancer Services at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville; and Pearlman Cancer Center at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta.
THE GOALS
1. Get more eligible Georgians to participate in cancer clinical trials in their own communities by increasing awareness of treatment options
2. Reduce cancer care disparities by enrolling more underrepresented populations of Georgians in all kinds of studies and settings
3. Balance the portfolio of research among open studies for treatment and cancer prevention and control studies
4. Get more healthcare providers in Georgia CORE’s network to participate in GA NCORP careand research
THE REACH
So far, GA NCORP is creating a constellation of participation in cutting-edge studies and treatments.
In the program’s seventh year, 3 out of 4 Georgians are within reach of new prevention, control, and treatment trials. Many are in rural and underserved communities.
THE ADDED BENEFIT
Physicians and scientists conducting studies need broad populations to participate, so that results will be more precise and beneficial. By engaging Georgians from all geographic areas and backgrounds, GA NCORP makes the work of these researchers more relevant and valuable.
THE IMPACT
GA NCORP has:
- Built a network of 100 physicians with access to dozens of studies – in treatment, prevention and control – available in 41 locations across the state
- Far exceeded national averages in the percentage of rural residents and racial/ethnic minorities enrolled in clinical treatments and other studies
- Ranked in the top quartile nationally for achieving goals
- Opened and recruited participants in five new studies in cancer care delivery research
- Developed and presented a new concept for genomics research
- Ranked in the top 15 sites nationally for enrolling patients in 11 high-priority clinical trials
- Received NCI’s Platinum Certificate of Excellence Award for exceptional achievement in enrolling patients in trials
Because of GA NCORP, nearly 2,650 more Georgians have participated in new clinical treatments and other studies – all approved by the National Cancer Institute, and 25 percent were minorities.
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