MEDIA ADVISORY

Posted in News Release

Symposium Explores Obstacles to Boosting Patient Enrollment in Clinical Trials

WASHINGTON — Cancer patients, their families, advocates, health care providers, researchers, media and the public are invited to the 3rd Annual Ruesch Center Symposium on November 30 and December 1, 2012, that seeks to demystify the research process and encourage more people to participate in cancer clinical trials. The symposium, titled “Empowering Patients Through Clinical Trials,” is sponsored by The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

WHAT: 3rd Annual Ruesch Center Symposium: “Empowering Patients Through Clinical Trials”

WHEN: Friday, November 30, 1:00 – 5:00 pm; Saturday, December 1, 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

On November 30, “Accelerating the Cure through Clinical Research” will focus on the perspectives of scientists, clinicians, policy-makers, and others involved in the development and testing of new cancer drugs.

On December 1,“Demystifying Clinical Research for Patients” will focus on patients and caregivers.

WHERE: Georgetown University Hotel & Conference Center at 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC.

WHO: Key opinion leaders from academia and research, pharmaceutical and insurance companies, public policy, and patient advocacy.

For a complete schedule of topics and speakers, visit: www.rueschcenter.org/symposium2012.

Media RSVP: Members of the media wishing to attend should RSVP to km463@georgetown.edu.

About the Ruesch Center
The Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, part of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, brings to bear a combination of advanced science, clinical studies and a patient-centered approach, tackling the problem along the continuum from the laboratory bench to the bedside.
The Ruesch Center currently has more than 30 studies of various gastrointestinal cancers underway examining new drugs, older drugs in novel combinations, chemotherapy/ radiation therapies and other potential strategies to defeat or control cancer.