On this SIG Virtual Community page, you will find information pertaining the Clinical Trial Nurses SIG. Here, you can view myriad resources, download and complete pertinent documents, join in our discussions and much more. Welcome to our SIG Virtual Community.

Announcements
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NEW! CTN SIG is now on Facebook! 
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NEW!! CTCAE version 4.0 is now available. (May 29, 2009) Click here for link.

There is a new version of RECIST - RECIST 1.1. The January issue (volume 2) of the Europeon Journal of Cancer is dedicated to RECIST. Here is the link to the RECIST PP presentation from the 20th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics: http://www.eortc.be/Recist/Default.htm.

Clinical Trials Resource Area
The conduct of clinical trials is the way we investigate scientific advances in oncology. It is the machine which moves our knowledge forward. Cancer nurses are critical to this research process, involved in designing and operationalizing research studies, protecting the rights of patients who choose to participate in research, and safely delivering the treatments. Working in the complex field of cancer research requires advanced knowledge in oncology, excellent patient/family teaching skills, a thorough work ethic, and the ability to work collaboratively with many different kinds of professional staff. The work is cutting edge, exciting and challenging.

It is a time to focus on the need for mentoring and to assure a brighter future. You can partricipate by becoming a mentor or mentee through the Clinical Trial Nurses Mentoring Program.

Did you know that the Clinical Trial Nurses SIG provides a formal mentoring program for oncology nurse professionals? Joining is easy. To enroll, visit www.3creekmentoring.com/ONS to start the process.

Mentoring relationships officially begin once a mentee contacts a prospective mentor (through the online program) and both parties agree to a mentoring arrangement. These relationships are ongoing with the majority of communication occurring by email and through the online program. However, mentors and mentees may also connect in-person or by telephone (at their own expense) as deemed appropriate and convenient for them.

Mentoring relationships can be either short or long in duration. However, participants should be willing to make a minimum commitment of two hours per month to the program. If at anytime an arrangement is not meeting the desired expectations, a mentor or mentee can be paired with another member participating in the program.

Please direct any questions to membership@ons.org.

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends,

The Institute of Medicine has released its latest report, Beyond the HIPAA Policy Rule: Enhancing Privacy, Improving Health Through Research. As a member of and contributor to the National Cancer Policy Forum, C-Change helped sponsor the work of the IOM on this important issue. The report concludes that the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not protect privacy as well as it should and that, as implemented, it impedes important research. The report offers a new approach to privacy protection in research, as well as recommendations for revising the HIPAA Privacy Rule should a new approach not be taken. This issue is important to address both in terms of research and in the context of the national discussion around health access that is gaining momentum. We strongly encourage you to review the findings in the report and to make your voices heard on this issue in the coming months.

Tom Kean
Executive Director

On January 13, 2009 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released an updated and improved version of the Surgeon General's Internet-based family health history tool.  Read more about the history tool.