Newswise — WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2014) — The George Washington University (GW) Cancer Institute is pleased to announce the launch of the new Cancer Control Technical Assistance Portal (TAP), which will serve as an online resource for communities working together to reduce the burden of cancer.

These community programs, called Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) programs and supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will have access to existing and new technical assistance through this website. Last year, the GW Cancer Institute was awarded a $2.1 million cooperative agreement over five years to design and implement a comprehensive technical assistance program for CCC programs, addressing a need voiced by cancer control professionals for a centralized website with existing and new technical assistance.

"Cancer Control TAP meets a documented need in the cancer control community,” said Mandi Pratt-Chapman, director of the GW Cancer Institute. “It will allow coalitions working on the ground to be more efficient and evidence-based in their efforts to reduce cancer burden.”

The website includes a resource repository, where users can search for and access CCC resources produced not only by the GW Cancer Institute, but also by the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at the CDC and their partners, cancer control coalitions, and other stakeholders. Users can sign up for and access archives of the GW Cancer Control Technical Assistance Periodical, a monthly e-newsletter that highlights new webinars, trainings, events, resources, and funding opportunities. Cancer Control TAP also houses past webinars and online learning modules produced by the GW Cancer Institute and features an events calendar for all GW Cancer Institute events, as well as archives of past events.

“Through collaboration, CCC programs across the nation are working in their communities to promote healthy lifestyles and recommended cancer screenings, educate people about cancer symptoms, increase access to quality cancer care, and enhance cancer survivors' quality of life," said Annette Gardner, public health advisor in CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control.

The CDC supports cancer control programs in 50 states, the District of Columbia, seven tribes and tribal organizations, and seven U.S. Associated Pacific Islands/territories. CCC is an integrated and coordinated approach to reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality through prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation. These efforts encourage healthy lifestyles, promote recommended cancer screening guidelines and tests, increase access to quality cancer care, and improve quality of life for cancer survivors.

###

About the GW Cancer Institute:The GW Cancer Institute, housed within the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, integrates and coordinates a broad spectrum of cancer-related activities across the GW campus and among its affiliated partners. Working together with the GW Hospital and GW Medical Faculty Associates, the GW Cancer Institute brings multidisciplinary clinical, research, education, and outreach programs together in a comprehensive approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. The vision of the GW Cancer Institute is to set the standard for patient-centered care and eliminate cancer health disparities. The mission of the GW Cancer Institute is to ensure access to quality, patient-centered care across the cancer continuum through community engagement, patient and family empowerment, health care professional education, policy advocacy, and collaborative multi-disciplinary research. smhs.gwu.edu/gwci/

About the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:As a leader in nationwide efforts to ease the burden of cancer, CDC works with national cancer organizations, state health agencies, and other key groups to develop, implement, and promote effective strategies for preventing and controlling cancer.