Origins of Compass

The strategic analysis published in 2002 by the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) revealed that research into supportive and palliative care (SuPaC) accounted for only about 4% of direct cancer research expenditure by NCRI partner funders.  In response the NCRI established a Strategic Planning Group (SPG) to make recommendations to enhance research in this field.

The Supportive & Palliative Care SPG published the report of their findings in July 2004.  The report highlighted that the research workforce was fragmented and that more collaboration and interdisciplinary working was needed including better links with research outside the field of cancer.  As a result of these findings, a consortium of NCRI Partners set up a scheme for funding interdisciplinary NCRI Supportive and Palliative Care Research Collaboratives.

Funding over 5 years was pledged by the following NCRI partners: the Department of Health, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council.  Marie Curie Cancer Care actively manages the two funded Collaboratives (COMPASS and CECo) on behalf of the NCRI Partners.