Highlights from the 2007 AACI Annual Meeting / CCAF Fall 2007 Meeting
Highlights
The Association of American Cancer Institutes convened its member cancer centers and collaborators from the national cancer research community for the AACI Annual Meeting/CCAF Fall Meeting October 28–30, 2007, in Washington, D.C. The annual trans-disciplinary conference examined issues that both challenge and contribute to the cancer centers’ combined efforts to improve the health of patients and families in every community across the United States. With almost 300 cancer professionals in attendance, AACI, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine sponsored Continuing Medical Education for the program.
Growth and Transition
AACI Executive Director Barbara Duffy Stewart acknowledged the many contributions of Dr. Shelley Earp as he completed his term as AACI president. Ms. Stewart also recognized Dr. Harold Moses as he completed his term as immediate past president; Ms. Stewart thanked outgoing board members Dr. Kenneth Cowan, Dr. Judith Gasson, and Dr. George Weiner for their service to the Association. At the meeting, Dr. Edward J. Benz, Jr. began his 2-year term as AACI president and Dr. Michael Caligiuri his 2-year term as vice-president and president-elect. The Association welcomed new board members Drs. Timothy Eberlein; Craig Thompson; Donald L. Trump; and Cheryl Willman.
At this year’s meeting Ms. Stewart also acknowledged new AACI members Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia Cancer Center, and UTMB Comprehensive Cancer Center increased, which have increased AACI’s regular membership to 90 academic-based cancer centers. In 2007, AACI’s Board of Directors established a special category of membership for like-minded cancer research organizations, and at the meeting, Ms. Stewart welcomed long-time collaborators—the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Cancer Society (ACS), C-Change, and CureSearch—as the Association’s first sustaining members.
A highlight of the event was AACI’s presentation of the 2007 AACI Public Service Award to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Representatives Michael Castle of Delaware and Edward Markey of Massachusetts. AACI recognized these individuals for their significant commitment to cancer research advancements and steadfast efforts to alleviate the burden of cancer on Americans.
AACI Programming
The Cancer Center Directors Working Group discussed their recommendations for accomplishing goals related to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, collaborations, and dissemination, coinciding with NCI Director John Niederhuber’s annual report to the AACI membership.
University of Chicago economist Dr. Kevin Murphy spoke on the economics of medical research. In the keynote talk, Dr. Murphy discussed his research that examines the cost and benefits of medical research and the value of health.
Moderated by PBS health correspondent Susan Dentzer, “The Role of Congress in Shaping Cancer Policy” allowed for staff members from U.S. Congressional offices to participate in a panel that discussed how they manage the important and complicated issues facing federal legislators. Furthermore, the panel aimed to provide cancer research leaders perspective on the development of strategies and messages that would best educate federal policy leaders.
Scientific sessions on stem cell research and drug development featured presentations by nationally recognized investigators. Experts examined the remarkable potential of stem cells in several areas of cancer research. Topics included: breast cancer stem cells, identification of cancer stem cells in hematologic and intestinal malignancies, and multiple myeloma stem cells. The session on drug development examined approaches for validating targets and screening compounds for new targets that facilitate the drug discovery process. Presenters discussed target discovery and validation; a systems biology approach to personalized molecular medicine; and academic experimental therapeutics—from bench to bedside.
A panel of cancer informatics experts discussed the development of clinical research systems at their institutions. Attendees gained insight into the common and unique tools and characteristics of home-grown and vendor-supported systems. Most important, the panel discussed the potential to maximize connectivity across cancer centers and how to prepare for adoption of emerging standards developed within NCI initiatives.
CCAF Programming
The Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF), which held its fall meeting in conjunction with the AACI Annual Meeting, developed programming to support the common research infrastructure at cancer centers, and—ultimately—the nation’s cancer research enterprise as a whole. The CCAF program committee identified veteran administrators from the cancer centers and other recognized experts from the cancer research community to discuss issues the executives deemed most important to the success of cancer centers.
NCI and Department of Defense officials reviewed issues relating to funding for cancer, as well as changes in strategic emphasis or guidelines and discussed future directions for their programs.
Current challenges to cancer centers are the special needs of cancer survivors and the establishment of biorepositiories. Cancer centers leaders presented shared models of survivorship programs designed to improve the quality of care for survivors, including identifying those at risk for late effects of cancer and its treatment, educating survivors on their risks, and treating the multitude of complications many survivors experience.
Human biospecimens hold extensive amounts of information that is essential for helping researchers understand human health and disease on a molecular level. This session provided an overview of biospecimen repositories being established at cancer centers that process, store, and distribute biospecimens for scientific research worldwide.
Administrators shared successful models for integrating the CCSG and CTSA at their institutions and strategies for planning, managing, and financing the construction of new cancer center facilities.
Emerging Centers and Expanding Programs
Providing programming to help emerging cancer centers more quickly evolve into larger institutions with broad research interests is an important goal endorsed by the AACI Board of Directors. There was an overwhelming response to a special session for emerging centers that focused on optimizing resources and sustaining growth and development at cancer centers and provided a forum for communicating strategies that more established centers have found to be effective in building their cancer centers.
Leaders from the national network of Imaging Response Assessment Teams (IRAT) discussed successful models and strategies being developed at their institutions. AACI, in its role as the coordinating center for the IRAT Network, will provide administrative support to cancer centers that meet inclusion criteria and wish to join the network as corresponding members.
Industry Support
The Association gratefully acknowledged organizations that provided support for AACI educational activities, initiatives, and programs as well as CME grants in 2007. AACI recognized major support from Amgen Oncology at the Presenting Level and PercipEnz Technologies, Inc., at the Platinum Level. AACI acknowledged support at the Silver Level from GSK, OSI, and sanofi; as well as at the Bronze Level from eHealth Global Technologies, Eli Lilly, Exelixis, GE Healthcare, Merck, Onyx, and Velos.