Research Capacity Building by a Clinician Scientist within the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium- National Community Oncology Research Program

This Clinician Scientist project is proposed by Elie Dib, MD, MS, FACP, a member of the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium (MCRC)-National Community Oncology Research Program. MCRC is well established and based at the Trinity Health Ann Arbor (THAA) Hospital, which is a small academic medical center, associated with the nation’s fifth largest health system. Dr. Dib practices as a medical oncologist within THAA and Chelsea Hospital, a joint venture with Michigan Medicine. Over 40 trial sites and 140 investigators conduct research as part of MCRC. Dr. Dib concurrently serves as Adjunct Faculty Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, teaching in the areas of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics and Individualized Genomics and Health. Dr. Dib has been a highly productive MCRC co-I since 2016, contributing the following major deliverables: a) site PI for over 60 protocols enrolling 800 patients across MCRC; b) enrolling investigator for 200+ patients completing NCI trials; c) co-founder and Vice Chair of Alliance Immuno-Oncology Committee; d) community co-chair of seven Alliance trials and representative to the NCI iMATCH initiative. He is also serving a 3-year term with the NCI Genitourinary Cancers Steering Committee. Aims of the project will be to continue established and successful clinical trials activities and gain protected research time to complete the following: a) contribute to newly-funded MCRC initiatives aimed at increasing the rate of clinical trials enrollment at all MCRC locations; b) launch safety lead-in work and more Phase I trials at MCRC’s most capable sites; c) evaluate and help adopt AI and PROs tool(s) for improving efficiencies in research such as patient screening and building capacity to use real-world evidence; d) continue collaboration development within MCRC community sites, that are joint ventures with Michigan Medicine, to bring a wider range of NCI-funded studies to community settings. In completing this work, Dr. Dib will provide essential knowledge, skills, and abilities as a community-based oncologist to NCI clinical trials initiatives. This project fills a gap for NCI by bringing a highly-qualified community oncologist into the Clinician Scientist program. Nationally, most oncology care is delivered in the community, often in tandem with high-functioning clinical trials programs. Thus, his perspective and experience represents the broader cancer care community. His work will have high impact for all of MCRC, Alliance, NCI, and the large population of patients and families who access cancer care outside of major academic medical centers.