Patient and Investigator Voices Organizing Together

A louder patient voice in cancer research 

The Patient and Investigator Voices Organizing Together, known as PIVOT, is one of the few cancer center patient advocacy networks that offers cancer survivors the opportunity to meet regularly with cancer center scientists to share suggestions and ideas that can help research better meet patient needs and improve quality of life.

• If you are a cancer patient, survivor or caregiver, and would like to become involved with PIVOT, please email us.

While patient advocacy in cancer research isn’t new, few cancer centers have formalized the concept. PIVOT includes about a dozen patients and co-survivors (families and friends) who meet monthly with researchers and cancer center executives. 

The Midwest Cancer Alliance, KU Cancer Center’s community outreach division, is closely involved including patients who have faced a variety of cancers and demographic groups from locations in Kansas and western Missouri.

For scientists who understand the biology of cancer intimately, such face-to-face meetings with survivors and their loved ones also can be inspiring, strengthening their resolve to make a difference in people’s lives. 

“With PIVOT, we are expanding on our cancer center’s mission to empower patients and advance quality cancer research and care,” said Roy Jensen, MD, cancer center director. “This platform will help us sharpen our focus on patient-centered research.”