The National Cancer Act of 1971 mandated that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) establish an information dissemination program. The amendment of 1974 authorized expanded information dissemination activities for scientists, health professionals, and the general public and later legislative measures further expanded NCI's cancer information dissemination programs.

Mission

The Office of Communications and Education (OCE) advances the mission of NCI by disseminating research results to the public to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Working closely with scientists and partners, OCE uses effective methods to reach diverse audiences and meet their needs for the latest, evidence-based cancer information.

Vision

OCE is the most trusted and valued resource for cancer communications strategy within NCI and for cancer information among the larger cancer community, providing the highest level of excellence, expertise, and services to the general public, the media, health professionals, and partner organizations.

Operational Goals

The Office of Communications and Education will:

• Strengthen NCI's ability to develop and provide accurate, scientifically based cancer information to patients, the public, health professionals, and other stakeholders across multiple media (i.e., Internet, telephone, print, video, etc.) and to create, implement, and evaluate evidence-driven cancer control and cancer care programs addressing the entire cancer continuum.
  
  
• Reduce redundancies, streamline functions, and optimize performance by integrating the experience and skills of OCE staff, whose expertise includes:
  • Communication technologies
  • Market- and user-centered informatics research
  • Biomedical and plain language writing
  • Graphic design
  • Strategic communications planning
  • Education
  • Information management
  • Public health program planning and other disciplines
    
    
• Create synergies that will result in a high-performing organization that maximizes the impact of NCI's messages, information products, and programs, and facilitates better dissemination of the evidence generated by its scientific endeavors.
  
  
• More effectively assess the communications and dissemination needs of NCI's Divisions, Offices, and Centers, and work collaboratively with them to develop robust solutions using appropriate technology and communications best practices.
  
  
• Enhance and fortify existing NCI partnerships and identify new strategic partnerships with professional societies, researchers, advocates, health professionals, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies in order to broaden dissemination efforts and assist in deploying NCI's resources where they are of greatest benefit.

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