More dollars are being invested in cancer and biomedical research than ever before; there are increasing choices available for treatment, diagnosis and management of the disease and the ranks of cancer survivors are swelling. However, every year, more than 1.2 million people are diagnosed and more than 500,000 Americans will succumb to cancer. Cancer is now the number one cause of death for people under age eighty-five and it continues to be the most feared disease.

Research and clinical science is threatened by shrinking budgets and increased regulatory hurdles. Science and its’ clinical application are entering new frontiers such as molecular and genetic based medicine that require a whole new paradigm in cross sector cooperation and education. Additionally, there are increasing requirements and expectations -- from patients, funding agencies, stockholders, payers and philanthropic donors -- for all organizations involved in cancer research and care to engage with affected communities, develop more effective outreach programs, and communicate research results and progress.

Knowledge and information management, communication, and outreach are as essential to translating research across communities as is the research itself. Research advocates can provide an honest broker hub that connects patients, cancer care providers and researchers, health care companies, and public and non-profit cancer agencies. As a hub in the center of the wheel, research advocates can facilitate cross community relationships, interaction and collaboration that helps research programs, improves bottom lines, and accelerates scientific progress of any organization involved in cancer research, all of which ultimately benefits the patient community.

Research advocacy is not well understood -- nor well defined -- and therefore is underutilized or ignored by many communities. There is a responsibility and opportunity for those involved in cancer care and research to invest now in the understanding and development of research advocacy with a level of commitment and enthusiasm that is meaningful and sustained.

All of the communities and sectors involved in and affected by cancer have a shared community objective of driving research progress for patient benefit effectively and efficiently. Research advocacy differs from patient and public policy advocacy in that it creates communication and outreach links to help the research and clinical communities interact and communicate more effectively across sectors. Research advocacy contributes to and benefits from a complementary relationship with patient and public policy advocacy that leverages their respective efforts.

Strong research advocacy strategies seek to: