July 1, 2014:

A conversation with Patrick J. Loehrer, Sr., MD, director of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, which is a member of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium:

Q: What kind of impact do you see the Big Ten CRC having on cancer clinical trials?

Individual cancer centers do terrific things, but collectively, we can do even more. We’re developing collaborative IRB agreements, regulatory mechanisms to facilitate rapid opening and completion of trials. Ultimately, if a Big Ten consortium trial is approved in Indiana, the same trial could be immediately opened up at Michigan, Iowa or Nebraska. If we are looking at a cancer with a rare molecular marker, we will have the ability to conduct a trial of 20 or 30 patients very rapidly because of a large pool of patients. Thus, the consortium should lead us to more rapid discoveries. Read More

July 1, 2014:

What type of trial is the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) looking to perform?

The Big Ten CRC’s mission is to perform novel, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials. Two other important components in Big Ten CRC trials is mentorship between junior and senior investigators as well as cross-collaboration between Big Ten CRC institutions. See the complete list of Big Ten CRC Research Criteria. Read More

June 6, 2014:

Representatives of Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) member institutions gathered recently in Chicago during the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The consortium held a series of meetings that produced new trial concepts and laid the groundwork for further developments in the Big Ten CRC.

On Friday, May 30, more than 50 Big Ten CRC representatives, including several cancer center directors and a number of junior and senior investigators, gathered for a working meeting. Three breakout groups discussed the following topics: Read More

June 1, 2014:

A conversation with Ken Cowan, MD, PhD, director of Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, which is a member of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium:

Q: What kind of impact do you see the Big Ten CRC having on cancer clinical trials?

Researchers can work together to turn ideas into potential new treatments. The clinical trials developed will link to molecular diagnostics, enabling researchers to understand what drives the cancers to grow and what might be done to stop them. Read More

May 27, 2014:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) announces the appointment of Susan Goodin, PharmD, as executive officer of the consortium.

Dr. Goodin is executive director of statewide affairs at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She possesses more than 20 years of clinical research leadership experience including serving as the deputy director of operations, associate director of clinical trials and therapeutics, and director of the Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. She played a key role in the establishment of the Cancer Institute’s clinical practice and designed its clinical research infrastructure, including the Center’s research office, research pharmacy, and protocol review and monitoring system. Dr. Goodin is a founding co-leader of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s statewide clinical trials network that includes 15 hospitals under the Center’s clinical research infrastructure. Read More

May 1, 2014:

A conversation with Robert S. DiPaola, MD, director of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, which is a member of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (CRC):

Having integrated last year with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is no stranger to collaboration when it comes to advancing scientific discoveries and developing innovative new treatment options for cancer patients. But as Dr. Robert S. DiPaola explains, being part of a consortium enables a wealth of expertise and resources to accomplish this very important mission. Read More

April 30, 2014:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) is accepting applications for executive officer.

This is an exciting time for the consortium, with several clinical trial working groups (CTWGs) meeting regularly, three LOIs approved, and numerous concepts under discussion. The executive officer will be instrumental in the continued success of the Big Ten CRC, and the position offers a unique career opportunity for the candidate.

Candidates must be faculty members at Big Ten CRC member institutions. Read More

April 21, 2014:

A leading gastrointestinal cancer expert has joined the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.

Bert Howard O’Neil, M.D., has been named the inaugural Joseph W. and Jackie J. Cusick Professor of Oncology and a professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine. He is also the Phase I director and director of the gastrointestinal cancer research program at the IU Simon Cancer Center, and he will represent the cancer center on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium steering committee. Read More

April 15, 2014:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium announces Zoe Holt, CCRP, will serve as senior project manager. Holt will provide project management for Big Ten CRC protocols as well as contribute to the continued growth of the consortium by providing administrative support for the meetings and activities of the steering committee and cancer center directors, overseeing the efforts to establish an expedited IRB process, and developing institutional relationships to support the consortium’s fundraising priorities.

“I am thrilled to further support the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium and look forward to working with such accomplished oncologists and prestigious academic research institutions,” said Holt. “Our work together holds great promise for furthering science and improving the lives of all patients with cancer. I am excited to be a part of this unique collaboration.” Read More

April 8, 2014:

The National Cancer Institute has renewed its designation of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, as a comprehensive cancer center after a highly competitive and rigorous process. The reviewers recommended support for the Masonic Cancer Center of nearly $20M over the next 5 years. Final funding levels are still being determined by the NCI.

This is the fourth consecutive designation awarded to the Masonic Cancer Center, which is one of only two NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the state of Minnesota and one of only 41 such centers nationwide.

The NCI noted several high impact areas at the University of Minnesota, including cell-based therapies, tobacco control, cancer prevention and screening, the development of new therapies for cancer treatment, and a growing focus on health disparities. Over 500 University of Minnesota faculty and staff are members of the Masonic Cancer Center. Read More