Advocacy Sessions

Welcome Session for Advocates and Advocate – Researcher Roundtable

TRCCC believes that adding the patient perspective is vital to this meeting. We welcome survivor advocates to the 15th annual meeting, confident that a robust dialogue between the research and patient communities will accelerate translational research. By adding advocates to our meeting, we will:

• Develop an ongoing relationship with the advocacy community
• Engage advocates and researchers in dialogue about immune approaches to cancer therapy
• Encourage advocates to spread information garnered at this meeting among their respective networks
• Develop a pool of advocates to serve on research applications
• Long-term, grow participation in clinical trials
• Leverage public policy/advocacy efforts for research and
• Encourage research-related philanthropy

Advocates should have a basic understanding of translational research. Meeting organizers look to the advocates in attendance to represent a broad spectrum of the patient population as applicable to each advocate’s experience, knowledge and expertise. Advocates are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible and participate fully in Q & A segments at each session and to engage in dialogue with meeting presenters and attendees.

Upon arrival, advocates will receive a brief backgrounder.

The Wednesday Welcome Session will provide a brief orientation and give advocates an opportunity to meet each other and ask questions of the meeting organizers.

The Friday Advocate-Researcher Roundtable will include brief presentations by researchers and an advocate representative followed by an open discussion.

We are grateful to all advocates who attend, and to the NIH/NCI’s Office of Advocacy Relations for their assistance in developing this plan.