ENACCT

What is the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials?

Founded in 2004 by advocates, educators and clinicians, ENACCT follows a mission to identify, implement and validate innovative approaches to cancer clinical trials education, outreach and recruitment to improve outcomes for all.

There is an important need to develop effective approaches to address the problems of cancer clinical trial access, accrual and awareness. Nationally, fewer than 5 percent of all adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials; this rate is even lower among racial and ethnic minorities as well as the medically underserved.

ENACCT is the only national organization devoted solely to implementing and evaluating cancer clinical trial educational efforts.

How are the LIVESTRONG and ENACCT working together to improve the lives of people affected by cancer?
LIVESTRONG and ENACCT are partnering to implement the Pilot Education Program (PEP), a community-centered education program designed to identify promising approaches to increase awareness about clinical research.

In January 2006, three community partnerships were selected to participate in the three-year Pilot. These partnerships, located in Boston, Decatur, IL, and Tacoma, WA, are now developing innovative approaches to foster awareness about cancer clinical trials, enhance their acceptability and improve access to them. To support their efforts, ENACCT is providing ongoing Train-the-Trainer programs, technical assistance and evaluation support.

How can I get involved?

You can further the work of LIVESTRONG and ENACCT by:

• Promoting the work of the three ENACCT pilot sites. If you live near one of the pilot sites, you can promote the site's activities and find out how you can get more involved. Visit www.enacct.org to find out more information.
• Creating awareness of cancer clinical trials to cancer survivors.
  • Contact the ENACCT staff at www.enacct.org or 301.562.2774 to find out how they can provide advocacy training assistance to organizations in your community.
  • Order free books, brochures and other materials on cancer clinical trials from the National Cancer Institute (see their Clinical Trial Education Series). Order online at www.cancer.org or 1.800.CANCER.
  • LIVESTRONG navigation services include a cancer clinical trial matching service. To access this service, visit LIVESTRONG.org/Get-Help or call 1.855.220.7777.
• Reading the Communities as Partners in Cancer Clinical Trials: Changing Research, Practice and Policy Report
  • Addressing the nation's continuing poor performance in cancer clinical trial participation, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and low income groups, will require meaningful public involvement in the design and implementation of clinical trials, according to a report released today. Communities as Partners in Cancer Clinical Trials: Changing Research, Practice and Policy, developed by the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENACCT) and Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH), details 58 recommendations for how the cancer clinical trial system can involve communities affected by cancer: from trial design - to implementation - to dissemination of research results. The report, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Cancer Institute, is the result of an 18-month collaborative effort involving key stakeholders in the cancer clinical trial system.The complete press release, full report, executive summary and request for proposals are available at the project website: www.communitiesaspartners.org