Skip to main content

Meet the Research Advocates

Research advocates at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center support our research efforts in many ways and for many reasons. Our advocates are cancer survivors, caregivers, and community members who are committed to making a difference. 

Lynne Cargen

Lynne Cargen

A breast cancer survivor and an active member of the breast cancer community, Lynne brings many years advocacy experience to the SPORE advocacy program. Shortly after her diagnosis in 1996, she became involved with the Tennessee chapter of the Breast Cancer Coalition, serving in many capacities as board member, board president and executive director. In 2004, Lynne became the first Breast SPORE research advocate while she continued to stay involved with other national organizations such as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Lynne is a graduate of Project LEAD and Project LEAD Clinical Trials, serves as a Komen Advocate Reviewer, attends monthly research and advocate meetings, and the annual NCI SPORE Investigators workshop. She also serves on the VICC External Scientific Advisory Board, the VICC Survivorship Committee, and is a writer and editor for a newsletter publication called BREASTLINK.