Advocacy Core

Advocacy Core

Director - John Park, MD
Manager - Sarah Goins, MS

Call for Volunteer Advocates:

Breast Spore Advocacy Core Brochure
UCSF Breast Cancer Research Advocate Opportunity

Background | Projects | Trainings | Reviews & Commentary | What’s new

What’s New In Breast Cancer Research

>Researchers discover special stem cells in breast tissue (April 4)
>Biennial Mammograms Best After 50, Even For Women with Dense Breasts (March 18)
>American Cancer Society to Honor Breast Cancer Specialist Laura Esserman (March 18)
>New Type of Pluripotent Cell Discovered In Adult Breast Tissue (March 4)

Podcasts:
>Breast Cancer Survivorship - Physical & Emotional Aspects of Life after Treatment (March 6)
>see full archive of previous Bay Area Breast Cancer Forums

 

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Background:

This Breast SPORE Advocacy Core (BSAC) was one of the first organized patient advocacy initiatives formally connected to an NCI-funded research program in the US. The Core is currently composed of a nucleus of 10 team members, who interact with the community on behalf of the SPORE. These individuals support Bay Area Breast Cancer SPORE projects and cores by infusing relevant patient experiences into the SPORE, by addressing recurrent barriers to translational research, and by networking with various cancer and community organizations throughout the Bay Area and nationally.  The Advocacy Core is a service-focused core providing a mutually rewarding experience for both advocates and SPORE investigators. These services are primarily focused around research support, education/outreach, tissue acquisition issues, clinical trials, and policy issues:

• Advocates provide Research Support to Project Investigators to further the translational goals of the SPORE by incorporating advocate involvement and collaboration.
• Advocates provide Education/Outreach services in the form of forums that promote communication, education, and awareness between researchers, patient advocates, and the public to promote awareness and relevance of the SPORE projects to people affected by cancer.
• Advocates provide Clinical Trial services, including participation in protocol and informed consent development for UCSF investigator-initiated clinical studies and SPORE projects.
• Advocates are actively facilitating increased specimen collection for the use of Tissues in research. They also provide input on and review of the use of the tissue collected from breast cancer patients.
• Advocates promote awareness of Policy Issues by planning and promoting events on emerging and ethical issues involved in translational research.
• Advocates are integral to SPORE Strategic Planning as they have direct interactions with other SPORE programs, interSPORE activities, and engagement with other advocacy groups.

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Projects:

SPORE Advocates support Bay Area Breast Cancer SPORE projects and cores by infusing relevant patient experiences into the SPORE, as well as by being service oriented and developing projects that can enhance the SPORE.

Opportunities to Work with SPORE Projects, contact Sarah Goins 502-2986 for more details

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Trainings:

Educational forums are provided for Advocates and by Advocates to promote communication, education, and awareness between researchers and patient advocates.

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Reviews & Commentary

Advocates provide Review and Commentary regarding Breast Cancer Research to further the translational goals of the SPORE and discuss important issues of Breast Cancer Research.

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