New Jersey’s first national cancer institute community
oncology research program (NCORP) awarded to
ATLANTIC HEALTH CANCER CONSORTIUM
T
he National Cancer Institute (NCI) has designated
Atlantic Health System as a National Community
Oncology Research Program (NCORP) site of the
Atlantic Health Cancer Consortium (AHCC). Covering
73% of New Jersey’s population, it is the first and only New
Jersey-based NCORP. AHCC will help develop and imple-
ment NCI cancer prevention, screening, care delivery, and
treatment studies with leading health care systems across
the state. The major health systems and medical centers
throughout New Jersey that make up the AHCC NCORP
include:
• Atlantic Health System hospitals: Morristown, Overlook,
Chilton, Newton and Hackettstown medical centers
and Goryeb Children’s Hospital
• CentraState Healthcare System
• Holy Name Medical Center
• Hunterdon Healthcare
• Saint Peter’s Healthcare System
• Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Saint Peter’s Children’s
Hospital
Atlantic Health System will serve as the lead affiliate for
NCORP Community Site activities, providing the scien-
tific leadership and central support personnel necessary to
accomplish the AHCC NCORP objectives. Atlantic Health
System leadership includes experienced cancer investigators
in both adult and pediatric cancers with unique expertise
that spans the cancer continuum.
“As the first National Cancer Institute NCORP site based in
New Jersey, we will expand the NCORP network coverage by 6.5
million people,” said Missak Haigentz, MD, medical director of
Hematology and Oncology for Atlantic Health System and principal
investigator for AHCC NCORP. “We are proud to partner with
these leading health care organizations, each of which has its own
unique strengths and patient populations. This will be an exception-
al and unprecedented cancer care consortium for New Jersey, which
has a diverse population and higher rates of adult and childhood
cancer than the nation as a whole.”
The grant will enable all sites in the AHCC NCORP to partici-
pate in additional cutting-edge research from the NCI and National
Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) and will significantly enhance access
to these trials for cancer patients throughout New Jersey. The clinical
trials will focus on cancer control, prevention, screening, care delivery,
treatment and medical imaging, and many will include a quality-of-life
component. These studies will also incorporate the needs of diverse
populations and will be integrated with cancer disparities research.
SPECIFIC GOALS OF THE CONSORTIUM
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• Increasing adult and pediatric participation in the above-refer-
enced types of NCI and National Clinical Trials Network clinical
trials, including members of groups that are currently underrepre-
sented in clinical trials, such as ethnic and racial minorities.
• Enhancing community involvement and physicians in cancer
control, prevention and care delivery research through a variety of
targeted community outreach and engagement efforts.
• Supporting and mentoring community oncologists and other
medical specialists.
The consortium will also help develop and implement clinically
significant studies that incorporate the unique research needs of
New Jersey’s diverse population. A special emphasis will be placed
on involving non-English-speaking individuals.
For more information on current Atlantic Health System Cancer Care clinical
trials, visit www.atlantichealth.org/research.
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