For Immediate Press Release: 

SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS’ RARE CANCERS RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ (CDMRP), Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) consumer advocate Leah Heinrich recently participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to the RCRP. Leahwas nominated for participation in the program by The EHE Foundation, Hobart, WI.  As a consumer reviewer, she was a full voting member, (along with prominent scientists) at meetings to help determine how the $7.5 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2020 will be spent on RCRP research. 

Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients by preparing comments on the impact of the research on issues such as diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. When commenting on serving as a consumer reviewer, Leahsaid that, “It is an honor to be apart of such an important program and represent the rare cancer patient voice. It’s exciting and humbling to see brilliant minds at work developing innovative ideas that could one day make a huge difference in the lives of rare cancer patients”.

The U.S. Congress established the Rare Cancers Research Program in the FY20 Department of Defense appropriation. With this new program, consumer advocates and scientists work together in this unique partnership to evaluate the scientific merit of research applications. COL Sarah B. Goldman, Director of the CDMRP, expressed her appreciation for the consumer advocates’ hard work. “Integrating consumer perspectives into our decision-making process brings energy and focus to our research programs.  Patients, caregivers, family members, and advocates help us keep our efforts centered around what is truly important to those impacted.  We very much value this critical input from our consumers who help ensure that CDMRP’s work remains critical and relevant,” she said.

Scientists applying propose to greatly improve outcomes for people with rare cancers through discovery, community building, and expansion of knowledge across the cancer landscape. The RCRP fills important gaps not addressed by other funding agencies by supporting groundbreaking research while encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.

More information about the CDMRP’s RCRP is available at the website: https://cdmrp.army.mil/rcrp/default .

Media Contact:
Kate Poindexter
Public Affairs Specialist
Ripple Effect
Supporting the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs,
USAMRDC
301-619-7783
[email protected]

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