Big Ten cancer centers continue to make advances in cancer research and treatment. In this edition of Across the Consortium, we highlight research from our member institutions in colorectal, prostate, brain, ovarian, and other cancers; we celebrate the generosity of the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation, whose gift to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center will help researchers establish the world’s most comprehensive genomic analysis of adrenal cancers; we see once again what is possible when state legislatures get behind cancer research; and we applaud our member institutions and investigators who have achieved recent accolades and honors, of which only a few are mentioned in this article.
Q: What kind of impact do you see the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium having on cancer clinical trials?
Our member institutions each have unique strengths and resources; the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) provides the necessary structure to use those resources to the best advantage and expedite the development of effective, innovative clinical research. The consortium’s ability to streamline processes from clinical trial design to implementation expands opportunities for our cancer centers to make the most of limited funding. In addition, the Big Ten CRC’s focus on collaboration will help ensure that young investigators receive mentorship and support to advance their concepts and develop new therapies. Read More
In this month’s Q&A, Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Administrative Headquarters addresses common questions related to monitoring.
Monitoring staff at Big Ten CRC Administrative Headquarters will perform risk-based monitoring as outlined in our Data Monitoring Plans. Site monitoring is an essential part of the Big Ten CRC’s ability to successfully run trials. Monitoring staff will source verify critical data elements in the patient charts to what is entered into the OnCore database. Critical data is identified as data supporting the primary and secondary objectives (e.g., eligibility, treatment data, disease evaluations, adverse events, serious adverse events, specified tests, etc.). Read More
Insightful questions lie at the root of every advance in cancer research and improvement in patient care: What causes cells, as they become cancerous, to switch from aerobic metabolism to glycolysis, which does not require oxygen? How might a more complete understanding of a tumor’s “onco-ecosystem” change the way we treat disease? Where will precision medicine and immunotherapy take us in the future? These are just a few of the questions currently being explored at Big Ten cancer centers.
A conversation with Anas Al-Janadi, MD, medical director of the Michigan State University Breslin Cancer Center, which is a member of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.
Cancer is a devastating disease, and the fight against cancer can only be won by teaming up to fight this merciless enemy. Our patients now can have the cutting edge research that is expected to be created and launched by the consortium members. The diversity and unique strength of each institution will now come together in order to deliver on the promise to our patients who can now find the most promising clinical trials in their own community. The MSU Breslin Cancer Center always has and continues to partner with communities throughout the state. Through our membership in the Big Ten CRC, we can also extend the offerings of clinical trials to all of our partners. Read More
In this month’s Q&A, Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Administrative Headquarters addresses common questions related to correlative research.
In what aspects of a clinical trial are correlative research managers at Big Ten CRC Administrative Headquarters able to assist?
As clinical trials continue to increase in complexity and further emphasize translational science, the collection of correlative specimens and the succeeding specimen analysis becomes ever more important. Read More
We begin a new year with recent highlights from each member institution of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. From new discoveries in our understanding of RNAs to re-emerging ideas about Vitamin C; from initiatives that focus on our communities at home to those that stretch across continents, Big Ten cancer centers continue to innovate and inspire. Here’s to a promising new year across the consortium!
Q: What kind of impact do you see the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium having on cancer clinical trials?
On our own, we each have characteristics that demonstrate who we are individually and in the context of our institution. In the context of the Big Ten CRC, our consortium harnesses the clinical expertise of 12 leading cancer centers specifically related to breast, GI, GU, GYN, hematologic, melanoma, and thoracic malignancies. Additionally, this is a fascinating time to be conducting cancer clinical trials: there have been many advances in molecularly driven therapeutics, and these have led to the evolution of adaptive and basket-designed trials. This presents an incredible opportunity for us to build greater collaborations that otherwise wouldn’t exist. I think it goes beyond looking at ideas from other institutions. It’s looking at what each institution is actually doing and how are we going to work with them or find a way for them to work with us. This includes diversifying the populations we bring to clinical trials that the Big Ten communities serve, and diversifying the education that we can provide for our students. We each have this niche and whether it’s being able to bring in a specific population, or exploring cancer from a different perspective that we have in the past, or gaining access to a technology that we simply don’t have – this is the benefit of these relationships and the collaboration that comes with a consortium. It allows us to continue doing what we are doing, but to also expand that to our network and see what else can be brought to the table and what can benefit this research that we might not be thinking of. Someone else might have that one piece of the puzzle. Read More
As the year comes to a close, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium would like to thank each of our member institutions for making 2014 a year of outstanding accomplishments. Hard work and a spirit of collaboration have underscored a number of significant milestones that are worthy of celebration. Consider just a few examples of what we have accomplished together:
Big Ten cancer centers are making tremendous strides in tackling some of the toughest questions in cancer research. In this month’s edition of “Across the Consortium,” we highlight advances in leukemia, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and new technologies and discoveries that could improve outcomes across many cancers. Behind these advances in research at Big Ten cancer centers are academic physicians and scientists who are not only brilliant in their fields, but also committed to patient advocacy and disease prevention.
Here are a few recent highlights across the consortium:
As the year comes to a close, the 
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