In 2001, a Clinical Trials Task Force was formed as part of ASCO's strategic planning process to recommend initiatives to increase clinical trial awareness and participation by physicians. The Clinical Trials Participation Awards were one of the recommendations of this task force. From 2003-2009, 71 awards have been given out; award recipients were nominated by the NCI Cooperative Groups and community-based oncology research networks.
Clinical Trials Participation Award is supported by:
A subcommittee of the ASCO Cancer Research Committee was developed to assess the process and criteria used to determine the recipients of this award, and to make recommendations for changes. Each year, two nominations are requested from ASCO's Clinical Practice Committee, the CCOP Program, each of the NCI-Cooperative Groups (ACRIN, ACOSOG, CALGB, COG, ECOG, GOG, NCCTG, NSABP, RTOG, SWOG), and each of the following community-based oncology research networks: US Oncology, Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network, UCLA Oncology Research Network, and Hoosier Oncology Group.
Nominations are based on the following criteria:
Quality community-based research program with high-quality audit reports and investigators in good standing;
Total accrual;
Accrual of Minority and/or Underrepresented Populations;
Increase in level of accrual over the last three years;
Practice has not received this award in the past five years.
Each of the nominated practices is invited to apply for the award by completing an online application. The online application contains both quantitative and qualitative measures: total accrual; accrual of minority and underrepresented populations; increase in level of accrual over the last three years; and innovative techniques employed by the practice to increase their overall accrual, to accrue minority populations, to overcome barriers to research, and to ensure and maintain the quality of research. The applications are peer-reviewed and scored by members of the subcommittee, and each application is reviewed and scored by at least one subcommittee member who is also a community-based oncology researcher. Applicants with the highest scores receive the award.
ASCO recognizes the need to continuously evaluate and improve the award application and selection process, and welcomes feedback and suggestions from ASCO members. Please direct all comments and suggestions to ctpa@asco.org.
The application process is currently closed for the 2010 award. Winners will be notified in April, 2010. Please contact ctpa@asco.org for more information.
The request for nominations for the 2011 CTPA will be sent out in August 2010.
