Clinical Trials

Research is paramount to the mission of the Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI). At NVCI, the Clinical Trials Office (CTO) assures clinical research follows federal, state, and local regulations. Clinical trials are vital to medical research because of the dramatic improvements they have contributed to the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including cancer.

The CTO is part of the Clinical Science Division of NVCI. The CTO support research scientists in preparing protocols, screening patients for protocol participation, monitoring patients on protocols, and managing data collected on clinical trial participants. The CTO ensures that patients participate properly in the informed consent process and that protocols are interpreted and followed accurately. Within the CTO, there are research scientists to explain complicated scientific and medical goals to patients, family members, staff, and the community. The CTO works in conjunction with a Protocol Review Committee and Institutional Review Board to assure that clinical research is conducted safely.

Every person in the CTO office is essential to the NVCI research team. Clinical Research Nurses (CRN's) and Clinical Research Associates (CRA's) are responsible for patient assessments and patient safety, CRN's and CRA's also ensure that every clinical trial patient give informed consent and that all protocols are followed accurately. The data management team ensures that information gathered in a clinical trial is accurately and appropriately reported to the organization sponsoring the clinical trial. They also ensure that all appropriate regulatory organizations such as the FDA and the IRB stay appropriately informed. All CRA's, CRN's, and data managers have direct access to each leading research scientist conducting a clinical trial at NVCI to maintain the highest of ethical research standards.

Mark H. Kirschbaum, M.D.
Director of Phase I Studies

Erin Pennington
Technical Director, Clinical Trials Office