Metro-Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium (MMCORC)

The Metro-Minnesota Community Oncology Research Consortium (MMCORC) has a long history of success, as demonstrated by the ongoing commitment of the original members. Today, MMCORC is an established community program that began through its National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Community Hospital Cancer Program Award. This program improved cancer care delivery in the community and was the cornerstone for the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) initiative. It received the initial NCI CCOP grant in 1983 and has been awarded subsequent CCOP grants in 3- to 5-year increments until the 5-year NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) grant in 2014. In 2010, hospitals, clinics, and oncologists in the MN CGOP joined MMCCOP, resulting in a metro-wide community cancer research program in Minneapolis-St. Paul. In 2014, MMCCOP received funding under the new NCORP grant program. In 2016, MMCCOP was renamed MMCORC to represent the disbanding of the NCI CCOP grant program and to recognize the broad scope of oncology research services available to the community, consistent with a consortium model. Finally in 2019, MMCORC received an additional 6 years of funding under the NCORP funding mechanism. MMCORC represents 22 hospitals and clinics with a common approach and established mechanisms for identifying, enrolling, and following participants on NCI-sponsored treatment, cancer control, prevention and care delivery research protocols. The state health market remains extremely competitive and is constantly changing due to mergers and healthcare reform initiatives. Despite this environment, MMCORC hospitals and investigators continue to collaborate and support the added time and expense of offering clinical research trials to patients in the communities we serve. The consortium incorporates a substantial segment of the oncology community and has provided a basis for communication, partnership, and collaboration among practicing oncologists, their hospital administrators, and other health professionals for over 40 years. Combined, the consortium members see, on average, more than 17,000 new analytic cancer patients per year. In the consortium, approximately 170 rostered MD investigators represent medical oncology, hematology, and radiation and surgical oncology, including thoracic surgery, gynecologic oncology, radiology, neuro-oncology, palliative care, and primary care, with approximately 100 rostered Advanced Practice Providers (APP’s). MMCORC intends to continue to offer the community the most recent advances in cancer prevention, treatment, symptom management, and cancer care delivery clinical trial opportunities through continued affiliations with NCTN research bases such as Alliance, ECOG-ACRIN, NRG Oncology, SWOG via CTSU, URCC, and CCCWFU. By implementing proactive strategies to improve access and encourage participation from our local catchment area, MMCORC is well positioned to achieve the goals of the NCORP set forth by the NCI.