June 2026

Building a National Research Network to Put Older Adults at the Center of Cancer Care

Cancer affects millions of older adults across the United States, yet their voices, priorities, and lived experiences are too often absent from the research that shapes their care. To address this gap, Dr. Jennifer May and a study team from the University of South Carolina College of Nursing is establishing a national, patient-centered research and support network focused on adults aged 50 and older who are living with or have been affected by cancer. Through this initiative, they will train older adult patients, care partners, and stakeholders in comparative effectiveness research (CER) in order to co-develop a national research agenda that reflects what truly matters to older adults and their families, ensuring future studies are guided by those with the most at stake.

A cornerstone of this effort is a partnership with the PaTH Clinical Research Network. PaTH’s Story Booth team will record 20 cancer stories from patients, caregivers, and stakeholders. With the storyteller’s permission, narratives will be shared as an online “Special Collection” on the Story Booth website.  We anticipate that these these 20 firsthand narratives will illuminate the gaps, challenges, and triumphs that older adults experience across the cancer care journey, from diagnosis through survivorship. Dr. May believes that "by training older adults and their care partners and sharing their cancer stories through StoryBooth, we are building a national network to set research priorities that truly reflect older adults' needs." By grounding their research agenda in these lived experiences, the team aims to ensure that the science of cancer care grows more equitable, responsive, and meaningful for the population it is meant to serve.

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