The NCI Translational Science Meeting was held November 7 – 9, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The meeting was designed to accelerate early translational cancer research and to encourage collaboration and enhancement of knowledge across NCI-funded research programs. Forty-seven advocates were selected to participate in the 2008 NCI Translates Meeting.

The advocate nomination and selection process was initiated by NCI Program Directors who invited principal investigators (PIs) in translational research to present their research at NCI Translates: The NCI Translational Science Meeting through poster session discussions. Next those PIs were asked to nominate advocates participants. Nominated advocates submitted information and their request to participate. NCI received many high-quality nominations by the deadline. A committee of NCI staff and an advocate (who acted as a consultant) assessed the submitted information for the advocate's level of applicable research advocacy experience. Nominations were matched with poster session topics. Matching was based on self-reported ability to contribute as an advocate to specific scientific areas.

The advocates selected to participate in NCI Translates: The NCI Translational Science Meeting for 2008 were: