The mission of the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE) is to improve the quality of cancer care in Georgia by strengthening clinical cancer research.

The goals of Georgia CORE are to:

Create a cancer research network that promotes a “team science” and responds to the needs of patients and survivors, linking academic clinicians with community-based investigators, educators, and public health practitioners;

Advance the quality of cancer care by promoting standards of care, stimulating research dialogue, accelerating protocol development, matching research interests of industry sponsors with those of investigators, conducting clinical trials, disseminating new findings and encouraging adoption of new interventions;

Promote adoption of 21st century health information technologies to achieve research, quality and educational goals;

• Encourage more people with cancer to enroll in clinical trials. Only 3 to 5 percent of Georgians with cancer participate in clinical cancer research. Georgia CORE has set its sights on doubling participation in clinical trials and ensuring access to research for those who are traditionally under-represented in trials- such as minorities, the elderly and rural residents.

• Strengthen connections among oncologists. The Georgia CORE Directory (www.GeorgiaCORE.org/Directory) of all adult and pediatric oncologists was created to provide access to all oncologists in the state. A companion directory provides profiles and contact information for cancer research professionals. Now, we are working to add oncology practices, hospitals, universities and other organizations to our research network.

• Refine the research and development function. Because research is costly and time-consuming, studies must be designed as practically and efficiently as possible. To make this happen, Georgia CORE seeks to convene more teams of researchers, oncologists and administrators to plan and design studies with the best chance of timely activation and enrollment- and the best chance of producing new cancer treatments. We must also offer services that make it easier for community oncologists to participate in research.

• Attract strategic investors and partners. As Georgia’s profile in clinical cancer research gains national prominence, we must leverage all that we’ve accomplished to bring new investment and initiate more trials. Because public funding for cancer research is inadequate, Georgia CORE must bring private funding sources to the table to help expand the infrastructure for clinical research and improve awareness of the benefits of this research.

• Build a sustainable enterprise. Georgia CORE has accomplished much in a short time period. But collaboration requires an ongoing commitment. As a result, a chide priority is to ensure that Georgia CORE is a permanent player in Georgia’s war on cancer.