Guided by the 1971 National Cancer Act mandate to rapidly disseminate information about cancer research to the public and the scientific community, the NCI Office of Communications (OC) has long been committed to finding the most effective methods of communicating scientific findings. Today, OC stands as a trusted and valued resource for cancer communications strategies within NCI and among the larger cancer community. Utilizing consumer research, cutting-edge technology, and the latest information about health behavior, OC provides the highest level of expertise and services to the general public, the media, health professionals, and partner organizations.

Just as NCI's overall cancer research has served as a catalyst for the advancement of broader scientific knowledge, so too have OC's innovations greatly enriched the vitality of communication efforts across the health care continuum. Since 1975, NCI has launched many ground-breaking communications programs such as the Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) and the Physician Data Query (PDQ). In 1995, NCI was at the forefront of the World Wide Web explosion with the establishment of CancerNet, a computer-based information service that ultimately evolved into the award-winning cancer.gov Web site. While innovative services such as CIS and online resources including cancer.gov and the NCI Cancer Bulletin are some of the more visible OC products, the success of these and other programs depends on a comprehensive, integrated, and technology-based organizational structure staffed by committed public servants.

The graphic below illustrates OC's integrated approach to effective communications, harnessing its many resources to maximize efficiency and rapidly develop future advances in communications technology.