The COPPER Center

The mission of the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center at Yale is to improve cancer care and to decrease the burden of cancer on individual patients as well as society. Led by Cary P. Gross, MD, the Center is comprised of researchers and clinicians from across the Yale Schools of Medicine (Therapeutic Radiology, Surgical Oncology, Hematology/Medical Oncology, OB/GYN, Urology, and Internal Medicine) and Public Health (Epidemiology and Health Policy). We also provide training and mentorship to the next generation of cancer policy and outcomes researchers.

• Generate and disseminate new information that can improve the care and outcomes of patients with cancer.
• Develop and refine new research methods and data resources.
• Train and engage clinicians and researchers in the conduct of cancer-related outcomes, policy, and effectiveness research.

Center members currently collaborate on a wide spectrum of translational cancer research projects, employing expertise in clinical epidemiology, comparative effectiveness, and health services research across a variety of cancer types (breast, colon, head and neck, lung, prostate, bladder, and hematological malignancies) and clinical settings. COPPER investigators employ state of the art techniques to shed new light on the care and outcomes of older persons with cancer. The group has considerable experience analyzing large datasets, including cancer registry and administrative claims data, and collecting primary data.

In addition to COPPER's prominence in the scientific community, our research has been featured in high-impact lay publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Furthermore, our work has been cited in payer coverage decisions and medical society clinical guidelines. In 2019, COPPER research conducted in collaboration with Flatiron Health was selected for presentation at the ASCO Annual Meeting Plenary Session. For more information on this presentation and associated press coverage, please click here.