SARC

Programs: The sarcoma alliance for research through collaboration is a us-based non- profit sarcoma research cooperative solely dedicated to fostering progress in the prevention and treatment of sarcoma in order to improve patient outcomes and ultimately find a cure. Sarc's unique ability to promote collaboration and unity among the sarcoma research community through scientific rigor, credibility and efficiency ensures that things get done. Collaborative partnerships and continued progress generate further investment in sarc's work for the good of patients.

sarc career development program is to help prepare and support clinician- scientists working in sarcoma as they begin their careers as independent clinical researchers. The early stage of career development, when a researcher is transitioning from working in a mentored environment to setting up an independent research program and obtaining grant funding, is a critical period. It is often more difficult for clinician-scientists who are conducting clinical research to make this transition than it is for other researchers because these individuals typically have to balance the demands of seeing patients with those of conducting research. Those demands, together with the complexity of today's research environment and the pace of progress, make it particularly challenging to maintain the knowledge base needed to be both a clinician and a researcher. Nevertheless, the role of the clinician-scientist in providing the bridge between the clinic and the laboratory is critical for the timely translation of basic research findings into therapeutic approaches. Career development awards are offered at a level of 100,000 per year for two years. It is sarc's vision that by providing stable support at a critical career juncture for clinician-scientists, the career development award will encourage physicians to pursue careers in clinical research. Also, sarc hopes to support successful candidates to have important careers in academic medicine and become future leaders of sarc.

the national cancer institute (nci) established the specialized programs of research excellence (spore) to promote interdisciplinary research and to help research findings move quickly from the laboratory to the patient. To earn a highly competitive nci spore grant, institutions must demonstrate a high degree of collaboration between first-rate scientists and clinicians and show excellence in translational research projects. Sarc was awarded a sarcoma spore by the nci in 2012. This is the first spore to be awarded to ta nonprofit consortium of academic researchers, and only the second sarcoma spore ever to be awarded.