Clinical trials provide the evidence base for advances in oncology. Errors made in the design and conduct of a clinical trial can make it impossible for the trial to provide a definitive answer about the effectiveness of a new approach. Poor design can lead to the abandonment of promising avenues of research that are based on sound basic scientific work as well as to delays in the introduction of new treatments into the practice of oncology. ASCO and AACR have designed this intensive Workshop to increase the reliability and effectiveness of clinical trials by:
- Introducing clinical fellows and junior faculty in any oncology subspecialty to the principles of good clinical trial design. This Workshop will give them the tools they need to conduct clinical trials that will yield clear results and have the potential to impact patient care.
- Exposing early-career clinical scientists to the full spectrum of challenges in clinical research – from surgery, radiotherapy, conventional and investigational agents, multidisciplinary treatment regimens, multimodality and combination treatments, and the integration of biomarkers in clinical trials. Workshop faculty seek to inspire participants to devote all or a portion of their future careers to some aspect of clinical research.
- Developing a cadre of well-trained, experienced clinical researchers whose expertise will foster better clinical trial design. Such expertise will thereby hasten the introduction of improved approaches for cancer therapy and prevention into everyday medical practice and patient care.