Aug. 19, 2019:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium recently appointed 11 investigators to serve as Big Ten CRC Clinical Trial Working Group (CTWG) co-chairs in their respective specialties. Their leadership supports the valuable collaboration and mentorship that takes place within each working group in support of Big Ten CRC studies, through initial review and approval of study concepts, protocol review, feedback throughout the life of a study, and publication authorship. It is also a forum where investigators can engage and share research concepts and flesh out ideas to shape protocols for future clinical trials.

Typically, co-chairs serve two-year terms that are renewable for one more term. They are responsible for identifying topics, developing agendas, and facilitating meetings and teleconferences for their working group. Together, these investigators leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities, as well as share resources to accelerate cancer research and new treatments.

The new co-chairs are:

Vijaya R. Bhatt, MD
Assistant Professor (Hematology/Oncology), University of Nebraska Medical Center
CTWG: Myeloid Malignancies Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: Tribhuvan University, Nepal
  • Residency: Staten Island University Hospital
  • Fellowship: University of Nebraska Medical Center
  • Specialties: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, post-transplant complications, graft versus host disease, leukemia, myeloid disorders, benign hematologic disorders

Dustin A. Deming, MD
Associate Professor (Hematology/Oncology), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
CTWG: Gastrointestinal Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
  • Fellowship: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
  • Specialties: gastrointestinal cancers

Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc
Professor of Medicine, Hematologic Malignancies (Blood Disorders), Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Associate Director for Clinical Services and Director, Lymphoma Program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Medical Director, Oncology Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health
CTWG: Lymphoid Malignancies Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medical
  • Residency: Lutheran General Hospital
  • Fellowship: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Specialties: Hodgkin lymphoma, NHL, CLL, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Kent Hoskins, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), University of Illinois College of Medicine; Co-Leader, Breast Cancer Research Program, University of Illinois Cancer Center; Medical Director, Center for Breast Care, University of Illinois Health Sciences System

CTWG: Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: Iowa College of Medicine
  • Residency: Iowa College of Medicine
  • Fellowship: University of Michigan Medical Center
  • Specialties: breast risk assessment and prevention; cancer genetics

Irum Khan, MD
Assistant Professor (Hematology/Oncology), University of Illinois College of Medicine
CTWG: Myeloid Malignancies Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: Aga Khan University
  • Residency: University of Cincinnati
  • Fellowship: Northwestern University
  • Specialties: MDS, MPN, acute myeloid leukemia

Brian L. Parkin, MD
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Medical School
CTWG: Myeloid Malignancies Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: Medical College of Ohio/University of Toledo
  • Residency: University of Michigan
  • Fellowship: University of Michigan
  • Specialties: AML; blood and marrow transplantation

Pritesh R. Patel, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), University of Illinois College of Medicine
CTWG: Multiple Myeloma Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Assistant Professor of Radiology, Pritzker School of Medicine
  • Director for Quality Improvement
  • Medical School: University of Manchester
  • Residency: John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County
  • Fellowship: University of Illinois, Chicago
  • Specialties: radiology and quality improvement

Jeanne M. Schilder, MD
Mary Fendrich Hulman Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine
CTWG: Gynecologic Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: Medical College of Ohio
  • Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Fellowship: University of Kentucky School of Medicine
  • Specialties: gynecologic oncology

Mihae Song, MD
Assistant Professor, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
CTWG: Gynecologic Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
  • Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Fellowship: University of Minnesota
  • Specialties: gynecologic oncology

Nataliya V. Uboha, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor (Hematology/Oncology), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
CTWG: Gastrointestinal Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: Yale University School of Medicine
  • Residency: Yale New Haven Hospital
  • Fellowship: Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital
  • Specialties: gastrointestinal cancers

David J. VanderWeele, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
CTWG: Genitourinary Clinical Trial Working Group

  • Medical School: University of Chicago
  • PhD: University of Chicago
  • Residency: University of Chicago
  • Fellowship: University of Chicago
  • Specialties: prostate cancer

“I want to thank our newly appointed Big Ten CRC working group co-chairs for their leadership and commitment to encourage collaboration and mentorship among Big Ten cancer centers to advance new research and treatments,” said Ruth O’Regan, MD, chief scientific officer of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium and Division Head of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Their expertise in evaluating potential research, providing input, and moderating discussions provides these working groups and the investigators participating in them the guidance they need to flourish and share best practices and discoveries.”

About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium was created in 2013 to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The goal of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium is to create a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to new approaches to cancer treatment. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to almost 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.