Huntsman Cancer Institute/ University of Utah Network Lead Academic Participating Site Application

Utah State Higher Education System--University Of Utah, Salt Lake City UT

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT As a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Network Lead Academic Participating Site (NLAPS), Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) provides leadership and robust accruals for the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Program. Building on our prior success with five years of U10-funded NLAPS partner and the last six years of the UG1 grant, HCI NLAPS program will continue to contribute to the development and conduct of clinical trials in collaboration with SWOG, NRG Oncology, and Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (ALLIANCE) NCTN Groups. Additionally, we will ensure substantial accrual to clinical trials across the entire NCTN. The HCI NLAPS executive team is highly qualified and experienced in cooperative group research. Our newly named institutional Principal Investigator (PI), Heloisa Soares, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal and neuroendocrine cancers, with an extensive history of leadership and participation in NCTN activities, including being study chair for NCTN trials and serving in various leadership boards within the LPOs. The new PI transition will involve a few key personnel changes within the NCTN Executive Team and specific Lead Protocol Organizations within the NLAPS. HCI’s faculty significantly contributes to the leadership of the NCTN program through active participation on steering committees, task forces, and group activities. Over the past six years, more than ten HCI faculty members have served as national principal investigators (PIs) or study chairs or co-chairs on NCTN trials. HCI has a strong, established commitment to participating in NCTN trials. To date in calendar year 2024, 13% (76/558) of HCI therapeutic accruals were made to NCTN trials, and consistently, over 60 NCTN therapeutic trials are open to accrual, including rare disease trials. HCI continues to aim to be a key partner to the NCTN in cooperative group research. The culture of our Cancer Center is driven by collaboration, excellence, and innovation. All endeavors at HCI are characterized by our core values: patient first, united effort, and excellence in all we do. We have a robust and comprehensive clinical trials enterprise, excellent commitment from the larger university, dedicated philanthropic support to build our faculty and facilities, and state-of-the-art research infrastructure in basic, clinical, and translational realms. Our Center will leverage these resources toward the success of the NCTN in its cooperative endeavors to eradicate cancer as the only NCI designated center serving the 5 states in the Mountain West. During the NLAPS supplement year, HCI will remain a dedicated and enduring partner to the NCTN program, distinguished by its expertise, leadership, and active participation.