The National Cancer Institute (NCI), in Bethesda, Maryland, announces the recent appointment of Brenda Elsagher of Burnsville, Minnesota to the Consumer Advocates in Research and Related Activities (CARRA) network. CARRA is a new, landmark initiative at the NCI to include the consumer advocate voice in a wide range of its activities. Brenda Elsagher will represent the issues and concerns of cancer patients and their families.
Brenda Elsagher was selected for a 3-year term, along with more than 200 other consumer advocates, because of her ability to represent the viewpoint of people affected by cancer. The advocates provide diverse perspectives in research from cancer diagnosis to ethnicity, geographic region, and age.
NCI developed the CARRA network to formally increase consumer advocate involvement in NCI activities. Some activities in which CARRA members may be asked to participate include science and communications activities, such as:
- Reviewing proposals for scientific peer review
- Participating in meetings about NCI research plans and policies
- Developing and reviewing health promotion messages
"CARRA members serve as critical, two-way links between NCI and their communities," says Acting Program Director Ms. Elisabeth Handley. "They strengthen and enhance NCI programs by helping to establish research priorities and assist in the design and implementation of many programs."
For more information on the CARRA network, visit their website at http://la.cancer.gov/carra
