Organization celebrates enrolling 70,000 patients to clinical trials, contributing to more than 70 FDA cancer therapy approvals
The Woodlands, Texas (Nov. 2, 2017) — US Oncology Research is holding its 16th Annual Science Forum on November 2-3 in Dallas, an annual meeting that brings together more than 150 affiliated US Oncology Research physician researchers and their clinical teams from The US Oncology Network (The Network). The meeting features educational sessions, committee meetings and networking opportunities with others who share a passion for excellence in clinical research in the community setting. This year is especially noteworthy, as the organization will be commemorating its involvement in enrolling approximately 70,000 patients in clinical research trials that contributed to more than 70 cancer therapy approvals by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). To date, US Oncology Research has played a role in about one-third of all oncology therapies that have been approved by the FDA.
US Oncology Research, supported by McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network, is one of the largest community-based research programs in the United States specializing in oncology clinical trials. It is comprised of approximately 1,000 physicians who care for patients in addition to conducting research.
“Enrolling more than 70,000 patients to clinical trials and contributing to more than 70 FDA approved cancer therapies are significant milestones for our organization,” said Sandy Smith, vice president, US Oncology Research. “I am extremely proud of our dedicated researchers, their highly-skilled staff and the practices within The Network that have played a pivotal role in developing these cutting-edge clinical trials. As a result, we have promising new therapies and innovative treatments that are impacting thousands of cancer patients every day.”
The Annual Science Forum brings together all US Oncology Research investigators for continuing education, presentations on scientific advancements that are driving cancer treatments, as well as in-depth discussions of best practices to achieve excellence in clinical research in the community setting. Ten disease program committees are focusing on scientific and clinical trends that are paving the way for new treatment approaches, while world-renowned experts in oncology research are presenting the latest information and perspective on such cutting-edge topics as immunotherapies and antibodies in cancer treatment, the CRISPR delivery system, and the critical role of senescence and exosomes in cancer.
Research nurse coordinators are a key focus for the meeting, since they play a crucial role in clinical trials. Approximately 70 nurse coordinators are gathering to discuss how to provide high-quality care for patients in clinical trials. They are also concentrating on leveraging technology and analytics to accelerate patient identification and enrollment, support study data collection and successfully navigate FDA audits. Discussions center on McKesson Specialty Health’s industry-leading iKnowMed℠ Generation 2 electronic health record system and the company’s Practice Insights℠ performance analytics tools, as well as trial finder and clinical trial management technologies.
The meeting is also honoring Centum Club investigators and practices that have enrolled 100 patients or more to clinical trials. US Oncology Research congratulates all award winners for their significant contributions to clinical research.
"The Annual Science Forum gives our US Oncology Research Team a great opportunity to hear about the very best new science with the highest possibility of making a difference to our patients,” said Daniel Von Hoff, MD, FACP, chief scientific officer, US Oncology Research. “This year we will hear debate on the best way to harness a person’s immune system against cancer, new agents with dramatic anti-cancer responses, new techniques for early detection of cancer and breakthrough approaches to cancer therapy including CRISPR, calorie restriction and eliminating cellular senescence.”
About US Oncology Research
Supported by McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network, US Oncology Research draws from a network of experienced investigators and dedicated clinical staff who specialize in oncology clinical trials. US Oncology Research serves 60 research sites and more than 165 locations managing about 300 active trials at any given time. Physicians in the research network have enrolled more than 70,000 patients in over 1,500 trials since inception in 1992 and have played a role in more than 70 FDA-approved cancer therapies, approximately one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date. For more information visit www.usoncology.com/oncologists.