Three Pillars of Our Mission.
Three Institutes to Support Them.
The Cancer Support Community includes three institutes that are critical to fulfilling our mission: the Cancer Policy Institute (which advocates to make the patient voice heard in policy and decision making), the Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care (focused on direct services and programs), and the Research and Training Institute (dedicated to conducting cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research).
The Cancer Policy Institute (CPI) brings together patient advocates and policy experts to ensure that the voices of cancer patients and their loved ones play a central role in federal and state legislative, regulatory, and executive policy making. The CPI works in partnership with patient advocates, the CSC affiliate network, and numerous allied health care and oncology organizations to work towards a future where 16.9 million cancer survivors have access to comprehensive, high-quality, timely, and affordable medical, social, and emotional care.
The Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care (IEPC) represents a key component of the direct service arm of CSC. As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, this global network of 190 locations ― including CSC and Gilda's Club centers, their satellite and outreach locations and health-care partnerships ― delivers free emotional and social support services to patients and families.
Since its inception, the Research & Training Institute (RTI) has become a leading expert in the cancer patient and caregiver experience. The RTI conducts novel psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research to advance scientific knowledge, inform policy initiatives, and support development of supportive care programming and education.
You Can Help CSC With Our Research
We are committed to research that helps make the lives of people with cancer better.
The Cancer Policy Institute (CPI) advances our mission to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.
The CPI brings together patient advocates and policy experts to ensure that the voices of cancer patients and their loved ones play a central role in federal and state legislative, regulatory, and executive policy making.
Evidence confirms that psychosocial care should be integrated as a vital component of cancer care.
As the incidence of cancer continues to grow, there is a demand for local, regional, and national support for all those impacted by cancer.
The mission of CSC and IEPC is to diminish distress and anxiety by focusing on empowerment, knowledge, and community. Patients, families, and caregivers can access our direct services in person, online, and via the phone or live chat.
More About the Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care
As the demand for patient-centered care grows stronger, there is a related need for research that sheds light on the patient experience.
The RTI aims to contribute to the growing body of social, emotional, and behavioral cancer research by focusing on inclusivity, access, and advocacy. Patients and caregivers involved in our research come from communities across the United States and beyond representing diverse perspectives on what it means to live with and beyond cancer.
The Cancer Support Community is continually working on new research in various topic areas that are important to people impacted by cancer.
We disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed scientific publications, conference presentations, key reports, and book chapters.