Perspective from the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program¹

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rich, Irene M.^{a; *} | Andejeski, Yvonne^b | Alciati, Marianne H.^c | Crawford Bisceglio, Isabelle^d | Breslau, Erica S.^e | McCall, Lisa^e | Valadez, Alex^f

Affiliations: [a] Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Office, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA | [b] Department of Radiology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6825 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20307, USA | [c] Management Solutions for Health, 1600 Waters Edge Lane, Reston, VA 20190, USA | [d] Biomedical Technology Division, Science Applications International Corporation, 5340 Spectrum Drive, Frederick MD 21703, USA | [e] United Information Systems, Inc., 10401 Fernwood Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA | [f] Academy Associates, 2595 The Fifth Fairway, Roswell, GA 30076, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Irene M. Rich, 7936 Carrleigh Parkway, Springfield, VA 22152, USA

Note: [1] Irene M. Rich served as Director of the CDMRP from 1994 to 1998. Yvonne Andejeski served as Director of the Consumer Program from 1993 to 1999. The authors were also members of the Consumer Working Group.

Abstract: The Department of Defense (DOD), Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) was established in 1993. Since its inception, Congress has appropriated more than $878 million for the BCRP, a unique public-private partnership between the DOD, consumer advocacy, and scientific communities which has funded approximately 1,800 breast cancer research grants.Through this partnership, the BCRP designed a model program for consumer involvement in scientific peer review. This paper describes the BCRP's approach to the processes of recruitment, selection, and preparation of consumers for this expanded role. Further, factors critical to program implementation, such as effective program management, ongoing process improvement, strong program leadership, and allocation of resources, that led to the BCRP's success in developing the previously undefined role of breast cancer survivors as members of scientific peer review panels are discussed. The BCRP demonstrates the feasibility and unique contributions of consumers in scientific peer review and provides a critical foundation for future efforts to ensure consumer involvement in scientific research programs.

DOI: 10.3233/BD-1998-105-606

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 10, no. 5-6, pp. 33-45, 1998