Description:

The Affiliate Program, initiated in 1976, was developed to enhance patient accrual from the smaller communities (private practices). Because extensive expertise in clinical cancer research does not routinely exist in private practice, the Affiliate Program was designed to function in conjunction with Member institutions. Affiliate Program membership must be sponsored by a Member institution, which ideally is close in geographic proximity to promote close communication. The Member institution is responsible for overseeing the Affiliate Program member's activities and take full responsibility for Affiliate registrations, quality of data submitted, and patient follow-up.

Individual Affiliate Program memberships may consist of one physician or a group of investigators (group practice) operating out of one or more hospitals. Affiliate Program investigators/practices are funded on a per case basis, not institutional grants. In other words, each time a patient is registered, a check is provided to the Affiliate Program member to help offset costs incurred with the registration. The Member institutions also receive a nominal reimbursement to help defray costs in maintaining their Affiliate Program. The Affiliate Program is ultimately funded through a program grant application submitted to the NCI (CTEP) and maintained by the Group Operations Office.

Affiliate Program institutions have access to almost all of the protocols that are open to Member and CCOP institutions, exceptions are primarily Phase I and II studies which may have limited institutional participation