Increasing Participation in NCI-Funded Clinical Trials at Winship Cancer Institute

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT I have devoted my career to the improvement of outcomes for patients with lymphoma and have utilized my expertise to improve clinical trial conduct at my home institution and nationally. I have developed a sincere commitment to the success of NCI-funded clinical trials, which often address the most critical clinical questions

and which consistently challenge the standard of care in order to improve patient outcomes nationwide. Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University is a National Clinical Trial Network Lead Academic Participating Site and boasts a robust clinical trial portfolio, enrolling roughly 1000 patients per year to therapeutic studies at multiple

sites throughout metropolitan Atlanta. I am the co-director of the lymphoma disease program, leader of the lymphoma treatment modality working group, and chair of the Data Safety Monitoring Committee. In these roles I can impact clinical trials in my clinic and throughout the Cancer Center. I have also assumed leadership of trials

through the ECOG-ACRIN lymphoma committee (PrE0404, A051201), have recently been appointed to represent ECOG-ACRIN’s lymphoma committee on a Real World Evidence Working Group, and am the co-chair of the lymphoma disease specific working group for Winship’s ETCTN consortium. As a result, I am well-

positioned to significantly impact of the success of NCI-funded studies. I will utilize the resources of the R50 Research Specialist Award to improve NCI-funded clinical trials through improved access and accrual to NCTN and ETCTN trials in Atlanta and the state of Georgia by strengthening existing collaborations with oncologists

throughout the state in association with Winship’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. This will include expansion of tumor boards and national programming, 1:1 in person and virtual communication with colleagues, and facilitation of opportunities to enroll patients in NCTN studies closer to their home communities.

I will continue to develop a pipeline of junior investigators and trainees nationwide who are interested in clinical trials and will ensure they have access to NCTN and ETCTN support to support development of their own concepts. I will develop the next series of trials by utilizing my experience as a leader in Real World Evidence

cohorts, both within ECOG-ACRIN and with colleagues throughout the country. I will continue growth of the NCTN and ETCTN at Winship and will ensure that colleagues continue to have innovative studies to which to enroll patients and have the skills needed to develop their own projects based on current and future clinical

needs.