The Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) of the Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) has received our fiscal year 2012 (FY12) funding to support research projects in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Prostate Cancer.

This is a critical request and it is important that prostate cancer survivors participate in research about prostate cancer….here is that opportunity. Please continue reading below and then directly visit malecare.org/cdmrp to fill out the application.

Malecare has been asked for nominations of advocate representatives to participate on those peer review panels and we encourage you to read the following and apply at www.malecare.org/cdmrp In past years, Malecare has been represented by almost a dozen reviewers — we hope you will consider becoming a reviewer, too.

As a reviewer you will represent the collective views of survivors, patients, family members, and persons affected by and at risk for prostate cancer.

Read and evaluate research study proposals for relevance to the prostate cancer survivor
community’s needs and concerns

Actively participate in the peer review panel discussions.

Participate equally with scientists.

Meetings are usually held in the Washington, DC, area for 2–3 days.

Travel, accommodations, meals and a honoraria are provided for all reviewers

More information and application at:
http://malecare.org/cdmrp/

Email Malecare’s Executive Director at: darryl@malecare.org with any questions.

From the CDMRP flyer:
The 2012 Prostate Cancer Program
The Prostate Cancer Research Program responded to advocates by involving consumers (an individual living with prostate cancer) in the review process. Selected consumer reviewers bring their community’s perspective, their firsthand experiences, and a sense of urgency to the process of identifying research focused on prostate cancer. Consumer reviewers underscore the need for good basic and clinical science, improved medical care, and increased survival.

Congress appropriated $80 million in FY12 for the Prostate Cancer Research Program. Applications submitted for the funds go through a two-tier review process to identify the best research applications. In the first tier, applications are reviewed for technical merit through a process known as peer review. In the second tier, programmatic review, applications are compared to each other and funding recommendations are made based on technical merit, the relevance to the mission of the DOD and PCRP, and the specific intent of the award mechanism.
We are recruiting for the nomination of individuals to participate as novice consumer reviewers for peer review. Approximately 4 weeks before the peer review meeting, scientist and consumer reviewers will be assigned applications to review. Scientist reviewers are required to develop detailed written comments on each assigned application’s feasibility, trial design, impact, etc. Consumer reviewers focus their written reviews on the significance of the proposed work as it relates to improved medical care, enhanced quality of life, and the potential of the work to make an impact toward ending prostate cancer.