Applications now open for AACR’s legacy educational program for patient advocates (San Diego, CA, April 17-22, 2026).
AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program®
As part of its longstanding commitment to fostering partnerships with cancer survivors and patient advocates, the AACR established the Scientist↔Survivor Program® (SSP) in 1998. SSP started as a single program at the AACR Annual Meeting. Now, in addition to that legacy program, SSP provides a series of educational and engagement programs designed to include the patient perspective in cancer research and policy.
Our Mission
The AACR SSP is dedicated to fostering mutually beneficial and enduring partnerships among leaders of the cancer survivor, patient advocacy, and scientific communities.
SSP accelerates progress against cancer by strengthening communications and developing collaborations among these key constituencies, harnessing their efforts to increase funding for cancer research, expand participation in clinical trials, improve clinical trial design, and facilitate access to cancer information for the general public. The AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program® strengthens and supports these synergistic collaborations.
Opportunities for patient advocates
Cancer survivors and patient advocates provide valuable insight throughout the research continuum to inform scientific discovery, public policy, and clinical research. To encourage participation in research, AACR offers patient advocates and cancer survivors a number of resources, tools, and opportunities, including:
- Annual Meeting Scientist↔Survivor Program®
- Patient Advocate Affiliate Membership
- Patient Advocate Registration Rate at Scientific Conferences
- Patient Advocate Program at the AACR Annual Meeting
- Cancer Today, a magazine for patient advocates
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