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Training Designed for Your Advocacy Network

Whether you are preparing a group of new advocates or enhancing the skills of experienced contributors, RAN offers flexible training tailored to your organization’s goals.

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Why Train with RAN?

The Research Advocacy Network has partnered with dozens of advocacy groups, nonprofit leaders, and research institutions to prepare patient advocates for meaningful roles in cancer research.

Our training is:
 

  • Designed with and for advocates

  • Grounded in scientific and ethical best practices

  • Flexible for groups of all sizes

  • Delivered online, in-person, or as blended programs

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Over 2,500 advocates have been trained through RAN programs, including collaborations with Mayo Clinic, ECOG-ACRIN, STARS, Conquer Cancer - The ASCO Foundation, and more.

What We Offer

Whether your group is preparing for grant review, study team participation, or community advisory board service, we offer modular packages that can be adapted to your needs.​

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Common advocate roles we prepare for include:

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Grant Review Preparation

Live or self-paced training tailored for your advocates

“Learning module screenshot outlining topics in the Research Advocacy Network curriculum.”

SPORE Participation

Prepare members to engage in NIH-funded and study team roles

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Study Team Participation

Partner with RAN on materials customized for your community

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Consulting

Provide your advocates with flexible, on-demand learning

Training Format Options

Self-Paced

Flexible online modules hosted on our Advocate Institute platform

Live Virtual

Facilitated sessions delivered via Zoom with expert instructors

Blended

Combine online modules with live discussion, case study work, and feedback

Custom

Co-designed experiences for specific disease areas, institutions, or goals

“Two colleagues reviewing medical charts together in a clinical research setting.”

Research
Foundations

Gain the knowledge and confidence to collaborate with researchers, clinicians, and policymakers as a trusted partner in cancer research.

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Communication
Skill Builders

Build authentic communication and leadership skills that turn insight into influence by
helping you connect, collaborate, and advocate with impact.

“Clinician speaking with a patient advocate during a medical consultation.”

Special Topics &
Custom Trainings

Access deeper-dive topics and fully customized trainings that strengthen your impact, elevate your voice, and align research advocacy learning with your community’s unique needs.

Need something unique? We’ll help you co-design the right training experience for your group.

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Voices of Advocacy

“Partnering with RAN helped us build a robust research advocate program at our cancer center. Their training and implementation guidance connected us with experienced advocates and improved collaboration with investigators. We could not have progressed this quickly without their support.”

- Dr. David Gerber – UT Southwestern Medical Center

Outcomes You Can Expect

After completing a RAN training, your participants will:

 

✔ Understand how research is designed, reviewed, and implemented

✔ Communicate effectively with scientists and clinical teams

✔ Represent patient perspectives with confidence and credibility

✔ Be ready to contribute meaningfully—not symbolically—to real research

Let's Build Your Groups Training Plan

RAN will work with you to design a training experience that meets your group where they are and prepares them for where they want to go.

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