With a commitment to invest $30 million toward innovative and life-saving research by 2024, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is taking a nuanced look at colorectal cancer research today to understand where it can have the greatest impact tomorrow.

The 2021 State of the Science Summit, set to meet virtually on October 4, is a last step in the Alliance’s research-field analysis before charting a five-year plan that will come to define its scientific strategy.

The summit will bring together multidisciplinary experts to collaboratively align on priority areas of research innovation and opportunity for colorectal advancements.

“We are looking for research domains where the Alliance can have the largest return on investment, answer questions that matter to patients, and ultimately save the most lives,” said Andrea Goodman, MSW, MPH, the Alliance’s Vice President of Patient Support and Research Strategy. “To do so, we are listening to patients, providers, and experts from every corner of the research community to understand where the greatest needs exist.” 

Based on  a forthcoming research landscape analysis commissioned by the Alliance, the summit will solicit detailed feedback in these areas, among others:

• Advancing new diagnostics and biomarkers 
• Identifying new targets and improving therapies 
• Overcoming health disparities and expanding screening

The need for research resulting in improved outcomes for colorectal cancer patients is clear. Despite significant advances in both the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer, in the U.S. alone, more than 1.3 million people are living with a history of colorectal cancer in 2021. This includes approximately 150,000 new cases and 53,000 deaths this year.

A public report from the summit, which is invite-only, will be available in early November.