CARRA members participate in NCI science/research and communications activities at the request of NCI staff members. The CARRA program maintains a database of CARRA members, including information about their cancer experience and special skills/interest areas, to match NCI staff requests with CARRA members who could effectively participate in their activities.
  • Submission of CARRA Member Information

    CARRA members complete a profile describing preferences, skills, interests, and availability. Members routinely update this information online using the program's membership Web site: https://la.nci.nih.gov/carra. Below are examples of information that CARRA members provide in order to facilitate the matching of advocates to activities.

    • Track Preference - Your preferred type of activity focus, such as science/research or the communication of science/research
    • Special Skills and Interest Areas - Any skills or areas relevant to CARRA activities where you have developed an expanded knowledge or particular interest, (e.g. epidemiology, clinical trials, quality of life, or survivorship)
    • Commitment Considerations - Any issues that may influence your participation in some types of activities, such as ability to travel and time requirements


  • NCI Staff Requests CARRA Member Participation

    NCI staff submits a request to the CARRA program, asking for advocate participation in either a science/research or communication of science/research activity. Each "CARRA Request" includes the following information:

    • Name and contact information for the NCI staff member requesting advocate participation
    • Title of the activity
    • Date(s) of the activity
    • Location, and whether is travel required
    • Number of CARRA members needed
    • A general description of CARRA member duties
    • Desired skills and experience of the CARRA member
    • Potential conflicts of interest that would disqualify a CARRA member from participating


  • CARRA Program Staff Recommends Qualified CARRA Members to Participate

    CARRA program staff develops a list of recommended CARRA members to participate in the activity based on:

    • CARRA Member information
    • Activity requirements, desired advocate skills and experience, and conflicts of interest related to the CARRA request

    CARRA program staff sends the list of qualified CARRA members to the NCI staff member submitting the request. CARRA member biographies and contact information accompany each list.

  • NCI Staff Selects CARRA Members to Participate

    NCI staff review the qualifications of recommended CARRA members. NCI staff will contact CARRA members to determine an advocate's interest in the activity and availability to participate. After contacting CARRA members and reviewing biographies, NCI staff selects the CARRA members they believe will add the most value to the activity.

  • CARRA Members are Notified of Selection

    NCI staff will contact CARRA members directly to invite them to participate in an activity. Before agreeing to participate, CARRA members must give thoughtful consideration to whether or not they can fulfill all of the activity's responsibilities. Please review the section: Responding to a CARRA Request for more information about accepting or declining an invitation to participate in a NCI activity.