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ACRES has contributed to the vision and advancement of the Cancer Moonshot initiative, aligning its core mission of transforming clinical research with the ambitious goals set by this national endeavor.
The Cancer Moonshot
The Cancer Moonshot initiative, launched with the goal of doubling the rate of progress in cancer research to achieve a decade's worth of advances in five years, recognized the critical need for a new approach to combat this devastating disease. Cancer is not only a profound human tragedy, accounting for over 8 million lives lost annually, but also an immense economic burden, with a global economic impact estimated at $1.6 trillion in 2010.
Despite substantial increases in research and development expenditures over the past 50 years, the fundamental drug development model remained largely unchanged, resulting in fragmented processes that waste billions of dollars annually and limit the number of new molecular entities approved. A key challenge identified was that science, data, and research results were often "trapped in silos," preventing faster breakthroughs and broader patient access. The Cancer Moonshot aimed to address these issues by focusing on several key areas:
Increased Funding and Targeted Incentives: To accelerate research.
Enhanced Private-Sector Coordination: To foster collaboration among various entities.
Unprecedented Cooperation: Encouraging cancer centers to work together more effectively.
Revolutionizing Data Sharing: Leveraging data and technology innovators to improve how medical and research data is shared and utilized.
Global Communication Improvement: Enhancing dialogue among doctors worldwide.
Specific Research Foci: Including prevention, vaccine development, early detection, immunotherapy, combination therapy, genomic analysis, and pediatric cancer.
ACRES Contributions
ACRES actively engaged with the Cancer Moonshot initiative, demonstrating its commitment to transforming the clinical research enterprise through a systems-based approach.
White House Engagement: In 2016, ACRES, along with its allies and partners, presented to the White House, Office of the Vice President, and the Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) as part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative. This involvement was a direct response to the call for action in transforming healthcare and research.
Systems Innovation: ACRES identified "Cancer Moonshot as a microcosm"- a disease-state focused initiative in various stages of discussion and development within its broader "Systems Innovation" efforts. This highlights ACRES' strategy of applying systems thinking to specific critical health challenges.
Addressing Data Silos and Promoting Interoperability: A core message from ACRES' engagement was the critical need to break down silos and enhance connectivity and interoperability in clinical research. ACRES emphasized building a shared global system that leverages stakeholder collaboration and innovation to streamline processes, improve safety and quality, and accelerate medicine development. This involves creating an integrated safety & efficacy data vault and a Master Patient Index & Unique Patient Identifier, enabling real-time, retrospective, and predictive analytics across diverse data types, including clinical trials, genomic, adverse event, personal health, and prescription data.
Leveraging Technology and AI: ACRES' approach champions the use of interoperable, integrated information technologies to enhance quality and safety. This includes leveraging advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to augment human abilities in searching, analyzing, interpreting, and applying data and real-world experience, thereby improving outcomes and optimizing care.
Holistic Transformation: ACRES advocates for a transformation of the clinical research enterprise that goes beyond mere technological upgrades. It calls for re-engineering processes and addressing fundamental issues such as reducing waste, shortening drug development times, and lowering costs. The organization stresses that effective solutions require understanding the entire system holistically, rather than just individual components.
Some content from the white house discussions
ACRES' efforts for the Cancer Moonshot exemplify its broader mission: to build a global system for clinical research excellence and safety that connects all stakeholders—sponsors, regulators, service providers, ethics committees, research sites, and patients—to seamlessly and securely utilize information for the benefit of all.
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