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Center for External Affairs (CEA)

NCI’s Center for External Affairs (CEA) engages with diverse audiences to raise awareness and understanding of cancer and cancer research through communication of accessible, evidence-based information, advocacy relations, and legislative affairs. CEA is responsible for planning and coordinating NCI’s public position and response to the nation's critical need for robust research investment in cancer causes, prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and science, technology, training, and care.

Engaging with the public is critical to NCI’s mission to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer, healthier lives. As the leader of the National Cancer Program, NCI, through CEA, helps guide the cancer community in achieving the goals of the National Cancer Plan and the Cancer Moonshot℠ to end cancer as we know it.

CEA consists of three distinct, yet interdependent NCI offices. These offices share a common mission to maintain trusted relationships with NCI’s external audiences and to ensure that the interests of the public are reflected in NCI communications at all levels of the institute. CEA is committed to learning from and communicating priorities important to the public about cancer and cancer research and amplifying NCI’s voice as the leader of the National Cancer Program.

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    Office of Advocacy Relations (OAR)

    Serves as the cancer advocacy community's primary point of contact and facilitates the involvement of advocates in NCI's research activities to help enhance the scientific process and improve patient outcomes.

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    Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL)

    Supports NCI by disseminating cancer research findings, providing evidence-based information on cancer for the public, including patients, caregivers, health professionals, researchers, advocates, the news media, and other stakeholders, and disseminating information about cancer clinical trials and funding opportunities.

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    Office of Government and Congressional Relations (OGCR)

    Informs the NCI community of congressional interests that affect cancer research and serves as the NCI point of contact for communications with Congress; facilitates relationships between NCI, Congress, and the research community to foster an understanding of the scope and value of NCI's investment in cancer research; and manages the institute’s responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and engagements with the Government Accountability Office.

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