Trial Monitoring

An independent Data Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) is responsible for monitoring the progress, safety, conduct, and interim results of the research studies designed and conducted by ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN). Given the diverse types of studies conducted by the Group (cancer therapy, prevention, control, diagnostic, screening, cancer care delivery research, etc.), the DSMC is organized into two standing subcommittees: one focuses on therapeutic studies and the other on imaging/diagnostic studies.

The DSMC is an independent advisory committee to the Group Co-Chairs, Drs. Peter O'Dwyer and Mitchell Schnall. The two subcommittees meet separately at least twice each year. Most of the members are from outside ECOG-ACRIN and include a cancer survivor and an outside statistician. Program staff from the relevant National Cancer Instute funding programs are also involved in the monitoring and oversight of the studies. These include the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP), Cancer Imaging Program (CIP), and the Community Oncology and Prevention Trials Research Group Program in the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP/COPTRG).

Before each DSMC subcommittee meeting, the members receive reports on all studies for which they are responsible. The reports include the study progress and safety reports made available to the ECOG-ACRIN membership and additional confidential information, which may include additional analyses of adverse event data and information related to outcome data.

To access the recommendation reports and policies of the DSMC, use the Member Login button above (user name and password required).