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National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) Subcommittees

Subcommittees are comprised of NCAB members. They advise the full board on a variety of topics and are usually permanent, unless designated as "ad hoc." 

Cancer Centers

Mission Statement

The purpose of this subcommittee is to work with staff of the National Cancer Institute to examine issues and policies related to the Cancer Centers Program. The subcommittee makes recommendations for acceptance and/or modification by the NCAB which in their final form are advisory to the Director, NCI. At the discretion of the Director, NCI, the subcommittee or representatives of the subcommittee can be asked to provide leadership in the examination of special problem areas that may have a major impact on the policies and objectives of the Cancer Centers Program.

Members

  • Dr. Ana Navas-Acien - Chair
  • Dr. Richard Boxer
  • Dr. Callisia Clarke
  • Dr. Luis Diaz
  • Ms. Tamika Felder
  • Dr. Christopher Friese
  • Ms. Julie Grant
  • Dr. Andrea Hayes Dixon
  • Dr. Edjah Nduom
  • Dr. Fred Tabung
  • Dr. Ashani Weeraratna
  • Dr. Karen Winkfield

Executive Secretary

  • Dr. Krzysztof Ptak (Acting)
    (240) 276-5618

Meeting Summaries and Reports

Year: 2023

Clinical Investigations

Mission Statement

The purpose of this subcommittee is to advise the NCAB on the entire range of issues related to clinical investigation. This includes issues related to the detection, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of cancer. It is responsible for a broad and diverse set of concerns aimed at improving the investigation of human cancers in order to increase the cure and improve the management of patients with cancer, or of individuals at risk for cancer.

Members

  • Dr. Nilofer Azad - Chair
  • Ms. Margaret Anderson
  • Dr. Callisia Clarke
  • Ms. Tamika Felder
  • Dr. Amy Heimberger
  • Dr. Ana Navas-Acien
  • Dr. Fred Tabung

Executive Secretary

  • Dr. Margaret Mooney
    (240) 276-6560

Meeting Summaries and Reports

Year: 2024

Year: 2022

Planning and Budget

Mission Statement

The purpose of this subcommittee is to assist the Director, NCI, and her staff on issues involving the budget process and planning for the National Cancer Program. The Subcommittee provides advice on the budget process, by commenting on the President's Budget and advising on assumptions that go into the bypass budget. The subcommittee meets three to four times a year, either before or during the full NCAB meeting.

Members

  • Dr. Ashani Weeraratna - Chair
  • Ms. Margaret Anderson
  • Dr. Nilofer Azad
  • Dr. Richard Boxer
  • Dr. Luis Diaz
  • Ms. Ysabel Duron
  • Dr. Christopher Friese
  • Ms. Julie Grant
  • Dr. Andrea Hayes Dixon
  • Dr. Edjah Nduom
  • Dr. Karen Winkfield

Executive Secretary

  • Mr. Weston Ricks
    (301) 480-2698

Meeting Summaries and Reports

Year: 2024

Year: 2023

Year: 2022

Year: 2021

Year: 2020

Special Actions

Mission Statement

The purpose of this subcommittee is to review any grant brought up for discussion by the Board for any particular reason by an NCI staff member. Staff recommendations submitted to the subcommittee are those foreign grants not meeting the priority criteria or a grant with an extraordinary situation requiring Board advice, approval, or clarification. Other grants which maybe be brought to the attention of the subcommittee are those in which a Program Director disagrees with the initial review of a grant and seeks to have it referred to a different review group, deferred for a site visit, etc., and any grant that has biohazard, animal welfare, or human subject concerns. Actions taken by the staff on each grant are presented to the subcommittee for their information.

Members

  • Dr. Christopher Friese - Chair
    Committee of the Whole

Executive Secretary

  • Dr. Paulette Gray
    (240) 276-6340

Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Experimental Therapeutics

Mission Statement

The purpose of this subcommittee is to provide advice and guidance on issues related to developing cancer-relevant agents in keeping with the National Cancer Act and the National Cancer Plan.

This includes the translation to the clinic of novel anticancer therapeutic interventions either synthetic, natural product, small molecule, vaccine, cell therapy, biologic, or other therapeutic. The subcommittee should also encourage greater interactions with industry, academia, government, NIH intramural programs, etc., to enhance the drug development process, with an eye to bridging gaps between discovery and clinical testing.

This subcommittee will also provide advice on policies, procedures, and programs that will enhance the pre-clinical discovery and development of small molecules and biologics, as well as biomarkers and diagnostics that fall under the category of experimental therapeutics.

The subcommittee shall further provide review of the NCI Experimental Therapeutics Program (NExT), the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) drug development efforts, the drug development efforts of the Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN), and other extramural division activities related to experimental therapeutics. The goal is to optimize the functionality, quality, and output of these programs, accelerate innovations, and foster collaboration and cross-fertilization with communities served across the cancer research community including basic science investigators, the network of comprehensive cancer centers, and agencies such as the FDA as well as the pharmaceutical industry. The subcommittee will additionally provide input regarding educational measures to ensure balanced workforce, stewardship of government funding, and potential contribution of current and future drug discovery and development practices.

It is expected that the subcommittee may request information towards evaluating any aspect of the NCI funded experimental therapeutics research portfolio. An annual report will be provided to the NCAB. The subcommittee, in conjunction with the NCAB, shall review the mission statement every 5 years. At that time, the NCAB shall ascertain the need to retain the subcommittee.

Members

  • Dr. Richard Boxer - Chair
  • Dr. Nilofer Azad
  • Dr. Callisia Clarke
  • Dr. Luis Diaz
  • Ms. Julie Grant
  • Dr. Andrea Hayes Dixon
  • Dr. Amy Heimberger
  • Dr. Ashani Weeraratna

Executive Secretary

  • Dr. Rose Aurigemma
    (240) 276-5465

Meeting Summaries and Reports

Year: 2024

Year: 2023

Year: 2022

Year: 2021

Year: 2020

Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Global Cancer Research

Mission Statement

The purpose of this ad hoc subcommittee is to advise the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) and the NCI Director on strategic approaches and opportunities to enhance NCI's contribution to global cancer research. This group will provide leadership and expertise with the intention of offering input on proposed initiative(s), concepts, and partnerships or provide information to help determine prioritization of new prospects for NCI in global cancer research. In addition, this subcommittee may search for those opportunities whereby the NCI can contribute internationally such as by advancing clinical cancer research, building and bridging technology and research capacity, or promoting innovative training programs.

Members

  • Dr. Fred Tabung - Chair
  • Dr. Richard Boxer
  • Dr. Luis Diaz
  • Ms. Ysabel Duron
  • Ms. Tamika Felder
  • Dr. Ana Navas-Acien
  • Dr. Edjah Nduom
  • Dr. Ashani Weeraratna
  • Dr. Karen Winkfield

Executive Secretary

  • Dr. Satish Gopal
    (240) 276-6144

Meeting Summaries and Reports

Year: 2022

Year: 2021

Year: 2020

Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Population Science, Epidemiology and Disparities

Mission Statement

The purpose of this subcommittee is to advise the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) and the Director, NCI on strategic approaches and opportunities to enhance NCI’s contribution to population science, epidemiology and disparities. The subcommittee will be responsible for identifying opportunities to address populations facing disparities through multidisciplinary programs in research, surveillance, patient care, primary prevention, education and cancer control.

Members

  • Dr. Karen Winkfield - Chair
  • Dr. Nilofer Azad
  • Dr. Callisia Clarke
  • Ms. Ysabel Duron
  • Dr. Karen Emmons
  • Ms. Tamika Felder
  • Dr. Christopher Friese
  • Dr. Andrea Hayes Dixon
  • Dr. Ana Navas-Acien
  • Dr. Edjah Nduom
  • Dr. Fred Tabung

Executive Secretary

  • Dr. Gary Ellison
    (240) 276-6783

Meeting Summaries and Reports

Year: 2024

Year: 2023

Year: 2022

Year: 2020

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