In late October, 2017, Patient Advocates serving on various National Cancer Institute (NCI) committees and Task Forces participated in the Patient Advocate Steering Committee (PASC) to network, learn how to become more effective patient advocates and overcome barriers in research. Several ovarian cancer survivors were in attendance, including:

· Peg Ford and Susan Leighton serving on the Ovarian Cancer Task Force.

· Dawn Provenzale and Annie Ellis serving on the Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee (GCSC).

· Laurel J Pracht, West Valley Ovarian Cancer Alliance Pres., serving on the Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee (SxQOL).

· Mary Jackson-Scroggins serving on the Investigational Drug Steering Committee (IND).

For more information on the various committees:

PASC
https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/ccct/steering-committees/patient-advocate

GCSC
https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/ccct/steering-committees/nctn/gynecologic

SxQOL
https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/ccct/steering-committees/ncorp/symptom-managementIND
https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/ccct/steering-committees/investigational-drug

For more information about patient advocate engagement with NCI, please see the NCI Office of Advocacy Relations: https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/oar

For more information about research advocacy at NCI, please see: https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/oar/research-advocacy

For more information about ovarian cancer research advocacy with OCRFA, please see: https://ocrfa.org/advocacy/research-advocacy/