Bringing the benefits of cancer research to the American people depends on building and sustaining the strong research mechanisms, support structures, and collaborations that make it possible for us to pursue rapidly evolving discoveries. NCI must:

• Provide the vision, creative environment, and diverse resources needed to ensure a fast-paced and synergistic flow of innovative thinking among scientists in disparate scientific disciplines.
• Leverage our collaborations with other government agencies, academia, and industry, focusing on steering major breakthroughs toward the delivery of effective cancer interventions.

Investigator-Initiated Research builds on the synergism at medical schools, hospitals, universities, and research centers for asking the critical questions, exploring the options, and developing and testing innovative technologies.

Centers, Networks, and Consortia created and supported by NCI comprise a model framework in which investigators can work effectively in teams, collaborate for progress, and ensure that results advance from discovery to intervention development and delivery.

NCI-supported Clinical Trials provide the crucial infrastructure for moving new cancer interventions from the laboratory to studies in people with, or at risk for, cancer and then to the healthcare setting.

NCI's Intramural Research Program, which complements our robust Extramural Research Program, also provides a unique venue for innovative investigation, as well as translation, and application of research findings.

We must continue to use these platforms to build and enhance a research system that will allow and encourage the scientific community to share and apply new discoveries and emerging technologies.

We need new funding arrangements that will:

• Promote and reward innovative thinking.
• Speed cross-fertilization of ideas across scientific disciplines.
• Facilitate collaborations among government, academia, and industry.
• Bring advances in cancer care to all populations.

And we need to foster and coordinate efforts that would be too large for the individual investigator by promoting team endeavors and encouraging scientific integration without inhibiting individual creativity.

To streamline progress for cancer in as many ways as possible, we need to:

• Guide, support, and leverage the work of the individual investigator and that performed within NCI-supported Cancer Centers, networks, and consortia.
• Maximize physician and patient access to clinical trials for prevention, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions.
• Train top researchers in oncology and arm them with the finest technologies and tools available.
• Build and sustain the interdisciplinary connections so vital to 21st century science.

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