Announcing the ddn Cancer Research Portal: Your gateway to the latest oncology news, trends and resources

In a May 2009 editorial in this publication, fresh off theAmerican Association for Cancer Research's 100^th Annual Meeting inDenver, I shared with our readers that I had never personally known anyone whosuffered from or died of cancer—despite the sobering statistics put forth bythe American Cancer Society that nearly 1.5 million new cancer cases werediagnosed and more than a half million people died of cancer in the UnitedStates alone the year prior.

In late 2011, this isn't the case for me anymore. Startlingly,a little more than two years later, I now need two hands to count how manyfriends and colleagues have been impacted by some form of this disease … and Iam quickly running out of fingers.

For some of these friends and colleagues, the battle waswaged uphill. For others, a cancer diagnosis was but a mild hiccup in theirlives, and they quickly moved on from treatment to emerge healthier and moreproactive about maintaining their health.

At the same time, in the course of reviewing the past yearand planning for 2012, the journalists of ddnrecently took a look at how much of our news coverage involves oncology, and wewere stunned to learn that in the last two years, our cancer-related newsstories have doubled. Today, cancer research dominates nearly every section ofour newspaper and other news vehicles. From diagnostics to R&D andeverything in between, cancer is clearly a hot topic.

That's why we decided to launch our latest news division,the ddn Cancer Research Portal, yourgateway to the latest oncology news, trends and resources. Here, on this specialwebsite, you will have immediate access to all of our cancer-related coverage,as well as featured news and spotlights on some of the industry's oncologyleaders and links to various companies, research centers and organizationsdedicated to treating—or even curing—cancer.

It's our hope that this news portal will serve as a bridgebetween you and the growing cancer community. In the months to come, we will beannouncing special coverage that will shine a light on the various players inoncology research—from bench to bedside. Much like the ever-changing news, weexpect the ddn Cancer Research Portalto exist as a living, breathing entity that alters in reaction to the mostup-to-date announcements and trends.

Whether you are a cancer researcher, a student pursuing theoncology field, a company engaged in the search for anti-cancer compounds, amember of government or just an interested party, we hope you enjoy this newresource, which you can access by visiting www.ddncancer.com. Thanks forreading.