# UT Southwestern NCI National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Site

> **NIH NIH UG1** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $734,640

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
For years, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) has provided key leadership within
the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). The leaders of this UG1 application and other faculty members
hold major NCTN roles, including chairing clinical trials and committees. From March 2014 through August
2017, UTSW enrolled 520 patients on adult NCTN trials across 13 disease categories. During that time, UTSW
faculty authored or co-authored 27 publications directly related to NCTN trials, and have chaired, co-chaired, or
served as cooperative group committee chairs on 13 cooperative group trials. Substantial recent growth
positions UTSW to expand accrual and scientific contributions. After receiving initial NCI designation in 2010,
the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center received comprehensive designation in 2015. Since 2015, two new
hospitals affiliated with UTSW have been constructed. We have a vibrant drug discovery program; SPORE
grants in lung cancer and kidney cancer; an Advanced Imaging Research Center; and a Patient Centered
Outcomes Research (PCOR) Center. As the only academic medical center and medical school in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) Metroplex (population 7.2 million) and the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer
Center in North Texas, UTSW reaches a large and diverse population that otherwise would not have access to
NCTN trials. In recent years, up to 29% of our patients enrolled on NCTN clinical studies were Hispanic, and
up to 21% were African American. The specific aims of the UTSW UG1 are the following: Aim 1. Contribute
to NCTN trial accrual. We will continue to enroll patients with diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds on
therapeutic and non-therapeutic trials. Aim 2. Contribute to NCTN scientific direction. We will bring UTSW
basic, translational, and imaging research into hypothesis-driven clinical trials. Aim 3. Provide NCTN
leadership. UTSW faculty will continue to chair and co-chair clinical trials and committees in the various
NCTN groups, and by participate in NCI activities and initiatives. Aim 4. Promote career development of
junior faculty and trainees. UTSW faculty will provide mentoring and guidance in the NCTN. Aim 5. Support
NCTN administrative efforts. UTSW faculty will continue to serve on NCTN and NCI regulatory and auditing
committees. At multiple steps, the design and conduct of cancer clinical research has become more
challenging. Financial pressures have limited the protected time of clinical investigators nationwide. Increasing
cost and complexity of clinical trials has prolonged activation timelines and restricted eligibility. UTSW is poised
to meet and overcome these challenges. With designated funding and mentoring programs, we continue to
develop clinical investigators and disease experts. We have capitalized on a large and diverse patient base, as
well as growing bioinformatics capabilities, to optimize the identification, screening, and enrollment of clinical
tr...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933833
- **Project number:** 5UG1CA233302-02
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** David Eric Gerber
- **Activity code:** UG1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $734,640
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-22 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933833

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933833, UT Southwestern NCI National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Site (5UG1CA233302-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933833. Licensed CC0.

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