The NCI supports an average of over 1,300 clinical trials a year in the areas of prevention, screening, diagnostics, treatment, quality of life, supportive care, and genetics. Conducting clinical trials across multiple institutions in numerous locations requires a great deal of coordination to insure quality and consistency throughout all aspects of the trial, triggering the need for standing infrastructure with consistent policies. The NCI has supported the Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program for over 50 years to fulfill this function.