The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SG VHS) has been awarded a SWOG/Hope Foundation VA Storefront Grant, marking a significant step towards enhancing cancer research and clinical trial opportunities for veterans. This grant aims to bolster the existing research infrastructure and extend the reach of clinical trials to more veterans across the region.
Expanding Clinical Trial Access
The grant will enable the NF/SG VHS to hire an additional research coordinator, a move that is expected to significantly expand the availability of clinical trials. Dr. Brittany Rogers, Assistant Chief of Hematology/Oncology and the primary investigator at the NF/SG VHS, emphasized the importance of this expansion: "With these funds, we will be able to hire an additional research coordinator and expand clinical trial opportunities for our Veterans."
SWOG Partnership
SWOG, formerly known as the Southwest Oncology Group, is backed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and is a key component of the U.S. National Clinical Trials Network. Its mission is to advance medical practices in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, while also improving the quality of life for cancer survivors. Dr. Rogers noted, "Our affiliation with SWOG has been tremendously beneficial to the development of our research program. We feel honored to now be awarded the Storefront grant."
Multi-Site Coordination
The Storefront model is designed to bring together multiple VA Medical Centers under a central hub, facilitating shared administrative resources and organizational expertise. This collaborative approach allows for the pooling of participant data from various sites, enhancing the statistical power and generalizability of clinical trial results. The initiative aims to expand SWOG clinical trial partnership and enrollment at other VAs in VISN8, namely Tampa and Miami, and across the country.
