Initiative Supports Cancer Patients in US Clinical Trials

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to Vice President Biden's call to action, Lazarex Cancer Foundation and ORIEN (Oncology Research Information Exchange Network) announce a new joint initiative addressing barriers to cancer clinical trial access by utilizing the IMPACT program (Improving Patient Access to Cancer Clinical Trials) to improve patient care and outcomes. "This initiative is the first step toward creating a sustainable transformation in the 'bench-to-bedside' process for clinical trial enrollment," said Lazarex President Dana Dornsife.

The IMPACT program brings together the significant resources of academic institutions, medical facilities and professionals, policy makers, industry, public health entities and community organizations nationwide, to collaboratively leverage their assets.  This combined effort will improve the overall enrollment, retention, and minority participation of patients in cancer trials within the ORIEN exchange for an additional 2,600 patients and their families. Each year, the anticipated joint program budget is expected to reach $7,500,000, and over $21,000,000 over a three year period, reimbursing the ancillary costs incurred by patients that would otherwise prevent them from participating. 

About the Lazarex Cancer Foundation

Lazarex Cancer Foundation is a not-for-profit organization focused on cancer care for advanced stage cancer patients and the medically underserved by providing assistance with costs for FDA trial participation, identification of clinical trial options, community outreach and education.

About ORIEN

ORIEN is a unique research partnership among North America's top cancer centers including Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and the Ohio States University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in Columbus.

About Moonshot

During his 2016 State of the Union Address, President Obama called on Vice President Biden to lead a new, national Cancer Moonshot, focused on making a decade's worth of progress in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer in five years - ultimately striving to end cancer as we know it. A Presidential Memorandum www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/01/28/memorandum-white-house-cancer-moonshot-task-force on January 28, 2016 established the Cancer Moonshot Task Force.  More information on the Cancer Moonshot can be found here www.whitehouse.gov/CancerMoonshot.

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SOURCE Lazarex Cancer Foundation