This month, Max Wallace, CEO of Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, was appointed chair of the National Cancer Institute Director's Consumer Liaison Group (DCLG). The DCLG is a Federal Advisory Committee comprised of 16 advocate leaders, chosen for their expert understanding of the perspectives and dynamics of the cancer research community. DCLG members advise NCI and its Director on issues that benefit from an informed community perspective. All DCLG members are appointed by the NCI Director.
Max has been a member of the DCLG since 2009 and has made valuable contributions to advance the work of this group. He pushed to hold advocate meetings in a variety of cities. In 2010, he worked with the team at NCI to organize the DCLG's first-ever meeting in Seattle and introduced members to pioneering cancer researchers at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and Swedish Medical Center. "Advocates can be much more effective when they exchange ideas with researchers from across the country," said Max. In 2011, he also helped bring the DCLG meeting to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Max led a roundtable discussion on “Partnership and Policy” with leading researchers and health policy experts from Duke Clinical Research Institute, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and BurroughsWellcome Fund Health Research Alliance.
Max is also pleased that in his role with the DCLG he has been able to help recruit a young, nationally-recognized patient advocate to join the DCLG - Josh Sommer, executive director of the Chordoma Foundation. Josh has been named one of the "rising stars in science and technology" by Forbes Magazine and "Person of the Year" by ABC News.
"We're thrilled that Max has been appointed to a national leadership role to advocate for better research on behalf of all cancer patients," said Steve Case, chairman of the board of ABC2. "Max's entrepreneurial spirit, combined with an in-depth understanding of the complexities involved in cancer research, makes him a perfect choice to lead this effort to help NCI find innovative new approaches for research and ultimately improve outcomes."
