The Forum updated its strategic plan in 2008 and the first strategic direction is to provide leadership to influence public policy, increase funding, broaden public knowledge, and expand support for all forms of clinical research nationwide.

To meet this goal, the Forum is collaborating with the Association for Clinical Research Training, the Society of Clinical and Translational Science, and the Association for Patient-Oriented Research on joint advocacy efforts. Collaboration is through a mechanism called the Joint Advocacy Coalition and we have jointly engaged a lobbyist to assist with these efforts.

Our priorities include:

• Working with Congress and key Congressional committees to support annual funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHR).
  
  Industry Influence on Comparative-Effectiveness Research Funded through Health Care Reform
  by Harry P. Selker, M.D., M.S.P.H.,
  and Alastair J.J. Wood, M.D. (PDF 176KB)
  
  
• Maximizing funding for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program for the enhancement of clinical research infrastructure and education, training, and career development.
  
  
• Monitoring CTSA program implementation related to the centrality of clinical research training and career development, and the implementation of the full spectrum of clinical research training and conduct, including K awards and other specific NIH training mechanisms.
  
  
• Supporting additional funding across the spectrum of translational research, from early phase clinical research with a focus on the translation of biomedical findings into clinical care, to clinical research into healthcare and health, including comparative effectiveness research. This would seek increased funding of the NIH, the AHRQ and other Federal agencies as appropriate. Advocacy will seek to increase funds that both contribute to and complement the activities of the CTSA programs.
  
  
• Collaborating with other scientific organizations to develop position statements on legislation impacting the NIH, and AHRQ, and articulate those positions to key legislators.
  
  
• Working with the other organizations of the Joint Advocacy Coalition to develop a legislative grassroots network of members to respond to key legislative issues and support annual funding for Federal programs of importance. Conducting advocacy training, improving grassroots capabilities, and regularly conducting advocacy activities in support of the goals and the Joint Advocacy Coalition.