The American Cancer Society (ACS) is seeking individuals with a strong personal interest in cancer to participate in its research grants peer review process. “Stakeholders,” who have been part of the Society’s grant review process since 1999, provide a unique perspective from the cancer experience to help ensure sound research funding decisions.
A "personal battle" with the disease
Being a Stakeholder requires no formal science or oncology training, but instead a strong personal interest in cancer research based on a personal connection to the disease, such as having had a family member with cancer, having acted as a caregiver, or having had a personal battle with the disease.
“The participation of stakeholders brings a critical perspective to the ACS’s grant review process,” said William C. Chambers, Ph.D., ACS senior vice president of extramural research. “We have always made funding the best science our top priority. The input of Stakeholders assures those decisions include the view of people who have real-life experience with cancer.”
What it involves
Stakeholders from various interest areas join clinicians, researchers, and other scientists for a two-year term to review the more than 1,700 applications submitted to the American Cancer Society each year. Stakeholders are recruited from around the United States, and receive training before being assigned to one or more of the approximately 20 peer review committees in the Society’s Extramural Grants Division. In addition to stakeholders, each committee includes five to 20 researchers, clinicians, and other experts.
Stakeholder nominations will remain open now through September 15, 2016. Nominees will be asked to complete a short questionnaire and submit two letters of recommendation as part of the Selection Process. About 13 to 15 stakeholders will be selected, and will be trained before beginning a two-year term of service in June 2017.
Questions about the Stakeholder program and the nomination process can be addressed to:
Joseph W. Cotter
Research Constituent Engagement Manager Extramural Research and Training Department
joseph.cotter@cancer.org
404-329-5773
Interested parties can learn more about the program at http://www.cancer.org/stakeholders
