ALF Patient Advocate Participates in Congressional Directed Medical Cancer Research Program

Press Release for Personal Use

Re: Consumer Participation on Scientific Peer Review Panels 

For Immediate Press Release: 

SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS’ PEER REVIEWED CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ (CDMRP), Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) consumer advocate Donald Melillo recently participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to the PRCRP. Don was nominated for participation in the program by The American Liver Foundation.  As a consumer reviewer, Don was a full voting member, (along with prominent scientists) at meetings to help determine how the $115 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2021 will be spent on cancer research. 

Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients by preparing comments on the impact of the research on issues such as diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. When commenting on serving as a consumer reviewer, Don said that, it was truly an honor to serve on the committee. It was a lot of work but so meaningful when you know that a proposal that is grated funding might lead to a new procedure or a cure for Liver disease.

Consumer advocates and scientists have worked together in this unique partnership to evaluate the merit of research applications since FY09. COL Sarah B. Goldman, Director of the CDMRP, expressed her appreciation for the consumer advocates’ hard work. “Integrating consumer perspectives into our decision-making process brings energy and focus to our research programs.  Patients, caregivers, family members, and advocates help us keep our efforts centered around what is truly important to those impacted. We very much value this critical input from our consumers who help ensure that CDMRP’s work remains critical and relevant,” she said.

Researchers applying to the PRCRP propose to advance mission readiness of U.S. military members affected by cancer and to improve quality of life by decreasing the burden of cancer on Service members, their families, Veterans, and the American public. The PRCRP fills important gaps by supporting groundbreaking research while encouraging out-of-the box thinking.

More information about the CDMRP’s PRCRP is available at the website: https://cdmrp.army.mil/prcrp/default.

Learn more about Don Melillo and his liver cancer story here. 

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Media Contact:

Kate Poindexter
Public Affairs Specialist
Ripple Effect
Supporting the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, USAMRDC
301-619-7783
Kathleen.poindexter.ctr@mail.mil