Looking Towards the Future
Special California Resources
Respondents identified the following resources unique to California:
- Diversity: cultural differences, large Asian/Pacific Islander (API), Latino and African American populations in California;
- Large rural and urban populations; and
- World renown experts and research institutions.
Ways to address underserved and diverse Californian populations
Suggestions from respondents included:
- Create special RFAs;
- Make funding for underserved populations a priority;
- Encourage more researchers to study underserved;
- Collaborate with funders who offer money for programs and/ or services; and
- Award or recognize the best projects that benefit underserved and/or diverse CA populations at the bi-annual symposium.
Significant Impact
Can CBCRP make a significant impact on understanding, preventing, treating, and curing breast cancer with the current level and approach to funding?
Further Research
Additional Support for Advocate Reviewers
CBCRP may benefit from additional research into how to better support and train advocate reviewers. For example, one advocate suggested pairing each advocate with a scientific mentor. Additional inquiry could help to generate further suggestions to improve and support advocate inclusion in the peer review process.
Lessons Learned
CBCRP reviewers represent a good source of information, expertise, ideas and feedback.
Data gathered from this effort confirm CBCRP's staff anecdotal information which indicates that staff and reviewers communicate adequately about these issues.
Future Surveys
To increase participation and validity of the data, CBCRP may need to:
- Shorten surveys
- Pilot test surveys
- Offer incentives (for reviewers, the return of the survey could be tied to receiving honorarium payment)
- Offer anonymity to respondents
New Directions
- New award type for Junior Faculty/Senior Postdoctoral
- Narrow CBCRP's focus to a few areas of research
- Extensive outreach promoting BCRP funding opportunities
- New award type for capacity building
- Increased number of award cycles
- Media campaign
- Survey Advocates to learn about impact of being involved in CBCRP activities
Suggestions to disseminate research findings
- Newsletter for lay audience and scientists
- TV or video
- Training for medical and graduate students
- Web site listing cutting edge tools and/or resources and ways to obtain them
- Offer prize for most important research t “Teach scientists to speak in layman terms”
