Impactful New Science and Advancements in Cancer Care Research Revealed and Discussed at the US Oncology Research 17th Annual Science Forum

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS, October 8, 2018—US Oncology Research recently held its 17^th Annual Science Forum (the Forum) in Denver, bringing together more than 200 leading research physicians and their clinical teams. This year’s agenda included a focus on leading-edge clinical and technological topics, including artificial intelligence, the immunologic bank and new gene treatments like CAR-T cell therapies.

“This meeting brings outstanding new science to help our patients now,” said Daniel Von Hoff, MD, FACP, chief scientific officer, US Oncology Research. “This science will allow earlier diagnosis via artificial intelligence, introduction of new therapeutics with unique mechanisms of action, the maximum harnessing of a person’s immune system to prevent or eliminate cancer, and gene therapy to likely cure diseases we never dreamed we could change.”

During the Forum, investigators convened to hear from world-renowned speakers on topics and trends in oncology research, including:

• Regina Barzilay, PhD, Delta Electronics professor and MacArthur fellow at MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab, who spoke on artificial intelligence and its implications for more efficient density assessments and modeling in the treatment of breast cancer;
• Jian Han, MD, PhD, faculty investigator at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, who spoke on the promise of leveraging a person's own immunologic bank; and
• Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Pathology at The University of Chicago Ben May Department for Cancer Research, who discussed the most important new developments in immuno-oncology.

“Bringing together this talented group of individuals is an important step in how we build and nurture a strong culture of research and to continue the integral mission of advancing cancer care,” said Sandy Smith, vice president, US Oncology Research.

Oncologists and clinical investigators participated in key disease-program committee sessions where they discussed significant scientific and clinical trends that are paving the way for new treatment approaches. “These committees lay the foundation for innovation by deciding which trials are the most promising to bring to the communities we serve,” said Smith.

“Coming together for the Forum also allows providers an opportunity to recognize the dedicated researchers who are improving lives of cancer patients and their families every day,” said Alex Spira, MD, PhD, FACP, chair of the US Oncology Research Executive Council, co-chair of the US Oncology Research Thoracic Oncology Committee, and oncologist at Virginia Cancer Specialists. “We were able to honor many achievements at this year’s event, including those outstanding investigators and sites responsible for enrolling the most clinical trial patients among their peers across the U.S.”

About US Oncology Research

US Oncology Research draws from a network of more than 1,000 experienced investigators and dedicated clinical staff who specialize in oncology clinical trials. US Oncology Research serves approximately 60 research sites and more than 150 locations, managing about 300 active trials at any given time. For the past 20 years, physicians in the research network have enrolled more than 73,000 patients in over 1,600 trials and have played a role in more than 75 FDA-approved cancer therapies, approximately one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date. US Oncology Research is supported by McKesson Corporation.