Community Partners
Our research philosophy is simple: for the patient, with the patient. One of the ways that we embody this is by partnering with incredible humans and organizations who serve our communities, our colorectal cancer patients & their families/loved ones.
We are especially grateful to the partner organizations featured here, as they actively promote awareness and engagement for the CARRIES Study in communities across the entire United States. These organizations actively contribute their insights, their experiences, as well as share their unique perspectives on the CARRIES Patient & Community Advisory Council (PMAC).
By working together, these powerful partnerships support that all women and their colorectal cancer journeys in pregnancy, are represented in CARRIES.
FightCRC is a non-profit organization of relentless champions of hope who are fighting for a cure to colorectal cancer while supporting & empowering a community of patients, caregivers, and families. As a key CARRIES Community Partner, FightCRC extends awareness of study while helping to illuminate the patient voice in our research.
CARRIES Study experts, including Drs. Holowatyj & Eng, have been also invited to the 2025 FightCRC Global Scientific Thank Tank of international thought leaders in the field to create a path forward that reduces the worldwide burden of colorectal cancer in young patients.
COLONTOWN is a patient-centered, patient-led non-profit organization that fosters an online community of support groups for colorectal cancer patients, survivors and care partners; and curates free educational resources.
COLONTOWN brings their vast support and education community of over 12,000 members to help spread awareness & reach of the CARRIES Study in their Bulletin Boards; and unique perspectives to the Patient & Community Advisory Council.
The California Colorectal Cancer Coalition [C4] is a non-profit organization with a steadfast mission to save lives & reduce suffering from colorectal cancer in all Californians.
CARRIES' partnership with C4 is delivering a unique opportunity to increase representation of Californian women diagnosed with CRC in pregnancy onto study & to provide their advocacy expertise as we develop new care resources to support pregnant women along a CRC journey.
The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Young Adults with Cancer (YAC) Program supports young adults through their cancer journey, and empowers these patients and survivors to address all of their needs.
The strong partnership between the YAC Program and CARRIES is built upon Dr. Holowatyj's service on the YAC Board of Trustees & Dr. Eng as the YAC Executive Director. Together, CARRIES & the YAC closely partner to support engagement of young patients in pregnancy when diagnosed with cancer--including colorectal cancer, at Vanderbilt. Local CARRIES patients are invited to engage in YAC Program activities. Patient advocates on the YAC Board also actively contribute their community-based ideas to inspire more local patients to become part of the CARRIES community and to support our findings being heard & understood by the public!
...more organizations being added soon!
The Colon Cancer Coalition & Get Your Rear In Gear (GYRIG) is a non-profit organization that is wholeheartedly dedicated to creating a future where everyone has the knowledge & resources to not only make colorectal cancer treatable, but preventable.
With Dr. Holowatyj having been the recipient of an AACR-GYRIG Merit Award as a Fellow for her colorectal cancer research, this special partnership between the Colon Cancer Coalition and CARRIES now is an exciting, new opportunity to come together and share more about CARRIES across all communities to reach women who may be eligible to join the study, represent the patient voice in our research efforts, and support our discoveries reaching the public.
The GI Cancers Alliance is strongly committed to raising awareness, providing education, and advocating to prevent, treat and cure gastrointestinal cancers through collaborative efforts across communities.
The advocacy partnership between the CARRIES Study and the GI Cancers Alliance aims to represent patient voices in working to address the unmet needs specific to young pregnant women along their colorectal cancer journeys & to support all women diagnosed with CRC during pregnancy.
The Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee provides support and hope, breaks down care barriers, and fosters compassionate communities for all those impacted by cancer in this area.
As a local CARRIES Community Partner, the Gilda's Club Middle TN team supports study outreach & engagement efforts to extend CARRIES to all women in our region and partner toward improving CRC care and treatments for pregnant women.
Become a CARRIES Study community partner!
Are you a patient advocate or an organization that provides support, awareness, education and/or resources to the colorectal cancer community & may be interested in a research partnership with the CARRIES Study?
Talk with the CARRIES Team
615-936-1262 • crcpregnancystudy@vumc.org
Together, we can find new ways to improve care, treatments & health for women diagnosed with colorectal cancer during their pregnancy.
