About Us

The Murtha Cancer Center Program (MCCRP) is a sponsored program of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) with a translational research footprint at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Murtha Cancer Center was dedicated to the Honorable John P Murtha in 2012. Congressman Murtha was the first Vietnam veteran to be elected to the House of Representatives, where he served as a champion for outstanding healthcare for our men and women in uniform, with a particular focus on cancer care for our military and beneficiaries. The Murtha Cancer Center has continued his legacy by uniquely earning the Department of Defense’s designation as a Cancer Center of Excellence from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.

 

Founded September 15, 2011 IAW Base Realignment And Closure FY 2005

Designated DoD Cancer Center of Excellence May 22, 2012 by ASD(HA)
Develop robust translational military cancer clinical and research programs and public and private partnerships to accelerate progress against cancer
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center DIRECTIVE 6400.03 July 30, 2015
Establishes the organization and functions of the Cancer Program at WRNMMC
Aligns the WRNMMC Cancer Program under the John P. Murtha Cancer Center (MCC) defines the responsibilities of each component of the Cancer Program as outlined by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ACoS CoC)
The Cancer Registry, under the direction of the MCC, collects information and maintains computerized database of all patients diagnosed or treated at WRNMMC since its reference date of 01 January 1992
Defense Health Program Charter for MCCRP October 2018
Aligns the MCC with the Uniformed Services University MCC Cancer Research Program
 
•APOLLO - Applied Proteogenomics OrganizationaL Learning and Outcomes (In Process)
•Using advanced methods in proteogenomics to characterize and compare tumors, the federal alliance APOLLO develops a deeper understanding of cancer biology by identifying potential therapeutic targets and pathways for cancer prevention, detection, and intervention – Status: Establishing protocols, developing methods and materials and collecting and analyzing data and specimens. Presently, there are 8 projects: APOLLO 1 Lung Cancer, APOLLO 2 GYN Cancers, APOLLO 3 Prostate Cancer, APOLLO 4 Breast Cancer, APOLLO 5 All Cancers, APOLLO 6 Pancreatic Cancer, APOLLO 7 Testicular Cancers, APOLLO 8 Glioblastoma

•ORIEN – Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (In Process)
•MCC partnership with 19 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers to collaborate in cancer research using a single protocol for long-term health surveillance of cancer patients to correlate patterns in cancer incidence, treatment response, and survivorship with genetic information, demographic data, and other factors – Status: Establishing collaborative clinical trials protocols with member centers, developing methods and materials and collecting and analyzing data and specimens

•Military Cancer Clinical Trials Network (In Process)
•Establish collaborations with Military Treatment Facilities to optimize federal cancer resources, enhance cancer research and discoveries, increase access to cancer clinical trials, decrease duplication, leverage technologies, enhance intellectual capital,  and increase educational and training opportunities – Status: Establishing protocols, developing methods and materials and collecting and analyzing data and specimens. Presently, the Network consists of 8 Military Treatment Facilities, 7 VA Medical Centers, and 1 civilian medical center
 
 
 
 

Approximately 1,000 new cases of all types of cancer per year in Active Duty Service Members

Source:  www.afhsb.mil