Involving Advocates in Cancer Research

Advocates can play an important role in cancer research. In 2010, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Advocate in Research Working Group (ARWG) defined a “research advocate” as an individual who brings and can convey a nonscientific viewpoint to the research process and can communicate a collective patient perspective through knowledge of multiple disease experiences. Experiences cited in this review are related to publically funded research. They, exemplify challenges and successes of advocate engagement and involvement in the cancer research process.