Workshop on Research Methods in Supportive Oncology

PROJECT SUMMARY Despite dramatic advances in the understanding of cancer and its treatment, the majority of individuals with cancer still suffer from fatigue, pain, anxiety, insomnia, depressive symptoms, and poor appetite. These debilitating symptoms not only affect quality of life, but also impact healthcare utilization, adherence to cancer treatment, and possibly even survival. Supportive oncology (palliative care, symptom management, psychosocial oncology, and survivorship) aims to address these needs. However, the evidence base for supportive oncology interventions is still limited, and a larger, better-trained research workforce is critically needed to generate the evidence necessary to guide clinical practice. Responding to national calls to address this gap, we propose to renew our highly successful Workshop on Research Methods in Supportive Oncology (RMSO) to continue to train new investigators in supportive oncology research. This annual intensive six-day workshop includes didactic sessions on a broad range of relevant methods and small writing groups led by R01-funded supportive oncology investigators. With daily feedback and mentorship, participants write a complete research protocol over the six days. Over the last nine years, participants significantly gained research knowledge and skills, 100% had completed research protocols by the end of the workshop, and over 80% submitted these protocols to an IRB or funding agency. Longer-term follow-up data reveal that, on average, participants from the first five years of RMSO (2015-2019) were awarded $331,333 in research funding within three years and $512,166 within five years of the workshop (a five-year return of $61 for every dollar of direct costs of the grant their year), with 40% obtaining NIH funding. Approach and setting: This multidisciplinary program will train 180 early-stage researchers by continuing an annual intensive six-day virtual workshop with the resources of two Harvard hospitals: Dana- Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). By engaging RMSO alumni, we will increase the ratio of faculty to participants; establish an Under-Represented Minority (URM) Earlier Career Scholars track for doctoral students interested in supportive oncology research careers; and add an annual in- person meeting to allow an additional small group session for participants and opportunities for the larger network of RMSO alumni and faculty to connect. Our institutional commitment is substantial, including the Harvard Center for Palliative Care continuing the professional management of RMSO logistics. Faculty: We have assembled an outstanding team of experts in supportive oncology (established independent researchers, grant reviewers, and journal editors) to plan, produce, and evaluate the workshop. As leaders of highly-productive and well-known supportive oncology programs at DFCI and MGH, the PIs (Drs. Pirl and Temel) possess the requisite experience and leadership skills to organize this workshop.