Therapeutic Studies Program
The Therapeutic Studies Program contains the largest concentration of clinical investigators of the three scientific programs in the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN). Therapeutic Studies is the term that the Group uses to refer to its broad portfolio of treatment trials. The overarching research objective for this program is to assemble and maintain a multi-disciplinary community of investigators to develop and conduct phase II and phase III clinical trials to advance standards of care for cancer patients.
Within the program are 12 groups of researchers, each developing disease-focused studies of cancer therapy and creating extensive research opportunities for early-career investigators. Nine large committees focus on breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, head and neck, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, myeloma, and thoracic tumors. Smaller working groups study brain cancer, gynecologic cancer, and sarcoma.
Scroll down to view the leadership.
Leadership: A Group deputy chair represents this program on the ECOG-ACRIN Executive Committee. Leadership for each of the 12 committees and working groups is as follows: a pair of physician-researchers who serve as Chair and Co-Chair, and Imaging Chair from the medical-imaging discipline, and a Community Co-Chair who brings the perspective of physician-scientists who serve patients in community hospitals and belong to the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).
Members: The individuals who participate in this program come from the cancer centers, hospitals, clinics, NCORPS, and NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) that are members of ECOG-ACRIN. Each committee and working group includes physicians, scientists, oncology nurses, clinical research associates, patient advocates/patient representatives, and other healthcare professionals devoted to performing research into therapeutic interventions. There is treatment and medical-imaging expertise across the program.
Cross-Program Integration: The Therapeutic Studies Program serves as the venue for interaction between methology investigators in the other two scientific programs--Biomarker Sciences and Cancer Control and Outcomes. For example, the disease-site committees and working groups in the Therapeutic Studies Program are the main venue for collaboration with researchers in the Cancer Control and Outcomes Program. Similarly, the Biomarker Sciences Program committees exist to to incorporate predictive/prognostic molecular and imaging biomarkers into therapeutic trials whenever possible.
This three-program structure provides venues for the broad range of constituents across multiple disciplines--necessary to develop and execute a balanced, science-driven trial portfolio. Through it, ECOG-ACRIN contributes tremendous opportunities to the National Cancer Institute's NCTN and NCORP research programs.
Breast Cancer Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Co-Chair, Translational Science
Imaging Chair
In Transition
Bryan P. Schneider, MD
Indiana University/IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Biography
Gastrointestinal Cancer Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Genitourinary Cancer Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
In Transition
Head and Neck Cancer Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD
University of North Carolina/UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Biography
Leukemia Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Lymphoma Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Melanoma Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD
Cornell University/Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine
Biography
Gary I. Cohen, MD
Consultant
Myeloma Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Natasha C. Edwin, MD
Pacific Cancer Research Consortium NCORP
and Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center
Biography
Thoracic Cancer Committee
Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Julie R. Brahmer, MD
Johns Hopkins University/The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Biography
Brain Tumor Working Group
Co-Chair
Co-Chair
Imaging Chair
Community Co-Chair
Lawrence R. Kleinberg, MD
Johns Hopkins University/The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Biography
