Advancing novel cancer preventive and therapeutic strategies across the modern NCI clinical trial networks

Guided by my 16 years of experience and leadership in the NCI-sponsored clinical trial networks (NCI-CTNs), this R50 Research Specialist award offers critical support necessary to fully engage in high-yield activities across a spectrum of educational, leadership, and clinical trials-related research endeavors. Fundamental to each proposed activity is a consistent focus on improving outcomes via modern clinical trial development. I will continue to provide strong leadership in my roles as member of the NCI-Cancer Prevention Steering Committee and Co-Chair of the NCI-Gastrointestinal Rectal-Anal Task Force, inspiring the submission of novel concepts and rigorous, equitable review, enhancing the multispecialty expertise of the committee’s membership panel. As Principal Investigator (PI) for the ongoing NCI-NCORP Phase III clinical trial S0820/PACES (Preventing Adenomas of the Colon with Eflornithine and Sulindac), I am committed to completing all research activities within the five-year period of this grant, yielding the highest quality data for meaningful interpretation of our results. Given existing strong nationwide collaborations, this R50 grant will enable me to continue to engage in novel patient recruitment strategies for NCI-network-based clinical trials as we build upon our prior randomized trial evidence. I aim to leverage the protected time provided by this R50 grant to mentor junior faculty and clinical fellows from various cancer-related disciplines at our institution (UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Center, UCI-CFCCC) on NCI-CTN research methodologies. Moreover, this R50 grant provides the autonomy to advance into new leadership positions that become available over the next five years locally (at UCI-CFCCC, where I currently serve as Vice Chair of the Data Safety Monitoring Board) and nationally (within SWOG and the various NCI Steering Committees). Lastly, given UC Irvine’s historic strengths in early phase cancer prevention clinical trials, this grant creates an exciting opportunity for our Cancer Center to re-engage with the NCI-Division of Cancer Prevention Clinical Trial Network (CP-CTNet). As Site PI, I propose to lead UCI as a CP-CTNet Affiliate Organization, expanding the access of our catchment area’s population to early phase cancer prevention clinical trials.