This Month in Clinical Research
Message from the Director
The Meyer Cancer Center (MCC) at Weill Cornell Medicine is dedicated to championing clinical research that aims to change patient outcomes. Our goal is to support and facilitate rigorous, cutting-edge trials that meet the needs of our patients and community. The last few months have been challenging, but we are committed to building and improving the infrastructure that will help you translate discoveries from the bench to the clinic. 
 
This is the first in our new series of monthly MCC Clinical Research newsletters. We’ll use it to update you about changes in operations, to celebrate our successes, and to identify opportunities in clinical research. Over the next few months, look for announcements about new educational programs, pilot funding, and mentorship opportunities. Please contact me with ideas and questions. 

All the best, 
Beppe Giaccone 
Associate Director of Clinical Research 
Meyer Cancer Center | WCM
2021 Clinical Trials Accruals
Clinical research spans the full breadth of the cancer care continuum--from prevention to end-of-life care. The National Cancer Institute places significant emphasis on studies that test new therapies to treat cancer. The expectation is that NCI-designated cancer centers will enroll 15% or more of their analytical cases on these so-called "interventional therapeutic" trials.

In 2021, we enrolled 6.6% of analytical cases to interventional therapeutic trials across the Weill Cornell Medicine/NYP network. In 2022, we aim to accrue 10% of analytic cases onto therapeutic studies, approximately 950 patients across the WCM/NYP network.
2021 Top Enrollers
Congratulations to the three physicians that accrued the most patients to interventional therapeutic trials in 2021!* Each month we'll feature top enrollers who'll receive WCM swag!

Data pulled from OnCore*
MCC Educational Opportunity
The Principles of Clinical Research and Methodology

Workshop Co-Directors: Manuel Hidalgo, MD, PhD; Paraskevi (Evi) Giannakakou, PhD; Karla Ballman, PhD
Course Overview: To provide training to early-career clinical investigators across oncology disciplines, in the methods, design and conduct of clinical trials with an emphasis on investigator-initiated trials. Participants will immerse themselves in protocol development, the submission process, internal review, IRB and activation/launch.
Duration: 8 weeks (March 21-May 20, 2022); weekly two-hour lecture (Mondays, 5-7 pm); a
90-min protocol development small group session (Thursdays 5-6.30 pm).
Eligibility: Clinical fellows, residents, and junior faculty across oncology disciplines.
Submission Deadline: 12:00 P.M. ET March 15, 2022.
To Apply: Please email as a single pdf file to [email protected] the following items:
  • A synopsis of the clinical trial protocol you intend to write during the course (2 pages max)
  • Your biosketch
  • A letter of support/feasibility from your mentor, supervisor, or department chair confirming your access to resources needed for your proposed clinical trial
Questions? Dr. Spyridon Mylonas, [email protected]
Cap Exemptions
Following feedback from the cancer research community, the Clinical Research Leadership Committee (CRLC) expanded the list of studies exempt from the cap. The details can be found in Dr. Giaccone's recent email and they are summarized below.

  • Externally peer-reviewed studies, as defined by the NCI’s List of Peer Review Funding Organizations.
  • Studies initiated by MCC young investigators (less than 5 years since faculty appointment) receiving peer-reviewed funding. These studies will be reviewed by the CRLC and exempted on a case-by-case basis. Submit a DMT-approved study for consideration using this form.
  • Pediatric NCI Cooperative Group (National) studies, such as COG.
  • NCI ETCTN studies.
  • Studies IRB approved as of 1/9/2022.
  • Non-interventional (observational or ancillary/correlative) studies that are not disease specific. Submit these studies to the Phase 1 DMT.  
  • Retrospective chart reviews and retrospective biospecimen studies.
  • MCC Clinical Research Leadership Committee “priority” research. The CRLC will assign these exemptions based on importance to the mission of the Center and need in the catchment area. Submit a DMT-approved study for consideration using this form.

Please note that exempt studies still need to be approved by the DMTs prior to PRMC and IRB submission. All other studies will be included under the cap. This includes studies in the pipeline and new studies.
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