The Mays Cancer Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has ranked fourth in the nation for clinical trial enrollments among over a thousand institutions that are members of SWOG Cancer Research Network, formerly known as the Southwestern Oncology Group.
SWOG is an organization supported by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health that conducts cancer clinical trials. Its members include some of the best minds in cancer research. They work in large urban cancer centers, small rural hospitals, world-class universities, and leading-edge laboratories. SWOG also works on its trials with dozens of pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms. With 18,000 individual members, 1,300 institutions, and over 1,400 available trials, SWOG members collaborate, coordinate and conduct trials to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment to provide a better quality of life for current patients and cancer survivors.
With enrollment in trials on a decline in the last few of years, the Mays Cancer Center clinical trials team has been working exponentially to push cancer care forward and beyond. Christina Spencer, a clinical research project manager at Mays Cancer Center, has been crucial to growing our SWOG clinical trial enrollment.
“The cooperative SWOG trial team is led by Christina Spencer, who continues to set personal records and be an integral leader at Mays Cancer Center,” said Michael Liss, MD, chief of the division of urologic oncology, medical director for the Clinical Trials Office and the Mays Cancer Center’s principal investigator for SWOG trials. “For all the work it takes to start a clinical trial from principal investigator champion, regulatory review, coordination, data tracking, finance and maintenance, I am genuinely thankful for her efforts.”
Spencer has been with the Mays Cancer Center for 11 years. She continues to push the boundaries regarding the standard of care. She is passionate about educating patients about the benefits of clinical trials and how their participation could help other individuals in the future.
“Colleagues across the spectrum of cancer care in medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, urologic oncology and gynecologic oncology have contributed to this achievement, and their efforts are appreciated,” said Liss. “Thank you to my colleagues in cancer screening, survivorship, primary care and the Clinical Trials Office – it truly takes a village.”