Investigators carrying out state-of-the-art studies have many needs for data analysis and resource sharing. For example:

• Case control and cohort studies rely on high throughput genotyping.
• Studies in integrative cancer biology require computational models.
• Large clinical trials require the recording and tracking of enormous amounts of information.
• Protein pattern analysis puts to use the latest developments in artificial intelligence.

It is vital that investigators have access to the Bioinformatics tools that will support these and other needs. The cancer research community must act now to harness contemporary bioinformatics tools for:

• Integrating diverse data types
• Conducting analyses with accuracy and speed
• Capturing and sharing research outcome data
• Providing user-friendly tools that permit patients and their advocates to interact more directly with the cancer research community

NCI will accomplish this by using requested funding to establish a network of information technology partners and support development of a shared bioinformatics infrastructure and tools that facilitate data mining and integration.

The explosive rise of the Internet continues to fuel the demand for accessible health information, but substantial research reveals gaps between the information people want and what they receive. Moreover, people with less income and education are disadvantaged with respect to health communication. This is especially evident with patient-provider communication.

NCI leads our Nation's Cancer Communications research and development efforts and plays a central role in delivering vast amounts of information to diverse audiences every day. The research focuses on how people inform, persuade, relate to, and influence each other in various contexts and cultures.

Larger investments in cancer communications will enable the translation of successful intervention research into practice. In particular, we must apply what we have learned through research to strengthening communications with and improving the health of underserved populations.

Optimizing communications to speed the process from discovery to the dissemination of evidence-based interventions is at the forefront of our responsibilities. We must ensure that every person gets needed information at the appropriate time and in a form that is comprehensible and useful as well as culturally and linguistically appropriate.

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