About

2024 Design and Management of Cancer Clinical Trials Course
About

About Sylvester

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center in South Florida. We are known as South Florida’s leader in patient-focused cancer research and care and offer the only phase 1 clinical trials in the region. Sylvester is among the nation’s top 10% in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and in colon, lung, ovarian, prostate and uterine cancer surgeries. With a network of 10 facilities in South Florida and one office in Southwest Florida, Sylvester operates 15 site disease groups including transplant and cellular therapy and skin, gynecological, genitourinary, thoracic, myeloma, lymphoma, gastrointestinal, neuro-oncology, leukemia/hematology, sarcoma, pediatric, endocrine, breast, and head and neck cancers.

About the Course

Despite the exponential rate of progress in understanding the cellular and molecular biology of cancer, clinical oncology care has not fully incorporated these mechanistic insights. Accelerated improvement in the control and elimination of cancer will require clinical leaders with the following foundation:

  • Thorough knowledge of clinical trial design and development.
  • Understanding of the biology of different cancers and ability to identify and study relevant targets for drug and diagnostic development.
  • Ability to understand, assimilate, and utilize new cellular and molecular biologic discoveries to develop innovative strategies for cancer treatment, detection, and prevention.
  • Understanding of the strengths and limitations of laboratory investigation, and the importance of designing hypothesis-driven trials with relevant laboratory correlates.
  • Working knowledge of the regulatory activities of the FDA, the impact of the NIH and the NCI on drug development programs, and the role of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry in clinical cancer research.

This course is designed to provide physicians and others involved in developing and managing clinical trials with key information to advance a program of clinical research, to foster better clinical trial design and ultimately improve patient care. Over six weeks, participants will learn basic research concepts and principles that underlie the design and actual day-to-day conduct of cancer clinical trials.

Course Goals

  • Discuss the full spectrum of challenges and opportunities in clinical cancer research.
  • Facilitate collaborations and diverse networks among workshop participants.
  • Provide guidance on the development of clinical trial protocols.
  • Introduce principles of good trial design.
  • Develop a cadre of well-trained, experienced clinical researchers who will become future leaders in clinically focused cancer research.