NorthShore University Health System has over 25 years of successful participation as an NCI-designated CCOP. Over these years we have, in addition to accruing patients, held leadership positions in our research bases, directed national cooperative group studies and brought to the cooperative groups our experience and expertise in many areas such as quality-of-life research, cancer survivorship, thoracic and breast oncology, neuro-oncology and cancer genetics. NorthShore University HealthSystem has the only tertiary care oncology program in our area (population >1.2 million) with consistent participation in NCI-approved cancer treatment, prevention and control studies. We are the major supplier of oncologic healthcare in our area, and a major force for health education and promotion.
The specific aims of this renewal proposal are: 1. To continue to offer the populations of the North suburbs of Chicago state-of-the-art clinical research trials covering cancer treatment, control, and prevention. 2. To continue to extend our efforts into Lake County, Illinois (population 713,000), not served by any medical institution with consistent participation in NIH-approved clinical trials in oncology. 3. To disseminate within our catchment area state-of-the-art clinical practice in oncology as an outgrowth of our participation in the CCOP programs. 4. To bring to our national research bases expertise and proposals based on the ongoing research programs and clinical strengths of NorthShore University HealthSystem, and reflecting the needs of our community. 5. To expand our cancer treatment, prevention and control efforts to underserved and minority populations. 6. To continue our leadership positions in our established national research bases and to offer leadership in our new research base.
The treatment of cancer has advanced over the past 20 years requiring more specialized treatments that often are developed through clinical trials. The NorthShore University HealthSystem CCOP participates in the development of these clinical trials and makes them available in the community which it serves.
