"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The specific aims of the Heartland Cancer Research NCORP are to: (1)To be the primary vector for delivering; implementing, and executing NCI approved cancer treatment clinical trials to a large Midwestern rural and urban population; (2) To be the primary vector for delivering, implementing, and executing NCI approved cancer prevention, screening and control clinical trials to a large Midwestern rural and urban population; (3) To be the primary vector for delivering, implementing, and executing NCI approved Cancer Care Delivery Research clinical trials to a large Midwestern rural and urban population; (4) Enhance Midwestern cancer care by implementing a region-wide high standard of multidisciplinary integrated cancer care delivery; (5) Improve the education and outreach to all healthcare providers across rural and urban Illinois and Missouri regarding cancer clinical trials and incorporation of new research findings into daily patient care; (6) Improve cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship education for healthcare professionals throughout Illinois and Missouri; (7) Perform breakthrough research in methods to improve the efficacy, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of cancer care delivery for a large region across Illinois and Missouri; (8) Reach out to underserved and vulnerable populations across Illinois and Missouri to improve access to cancer clinical trials, state of the art care, and cancer prevention and earl detection strategies; (9) Coordinate with local and state agencies to leverage resources to improve state wide cancer education regarding cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and clinical trials; (10) Continue to explore best practices for improving the productivity of Heartland NCORP within an environment of limited resources; (11) Continue to recruit, train, and support new investigators who share the vision and embrace the objectives of the Heartland NCORP" |