Clinical Research Office
The Clinical Research Office supports the UNM Cancer Center’s vast clinical research efforts. These efforts span several different disciplines, institutions, research groups, community programs and all the counties in New Mexico.
Carolyn Muller, MD, FACOG
Associate Director
Clinical Research
Cheryl Sampson
Administrative Director
Clinical Trials Office
CRO Mission
The Clinical Research Office designs, builds and coordinates the UNM Cancer Center’s clinical research portfolio.
The CRO:
- prioritizes clinical trials by working with UNM Cancer Center Clinical Working Groups;
- manages cancer clinical trials through the Protocol Review and Monitoring System and the Clinical Protocol and Data Management teams;
- drives clinical research by acting as the hub for the state and working through the New Mexico Cancer Care Alliance, a statewide network that provides close-to-home clinical trials access to all New Mexicans; and
- engages New Mexico’s communities through the Population Sciences Research Group to address disparities in access to cancer clinical trials.
The CRO at UNM Cancer Center
The CRO reviews trials initiated by:
- The National Cancer Institute
- Pharmaceutical companies
- National Clinical Trial Working groups
- UNM Cancer Center investigators
The Protocol Review and Monitoring System (PRMS) uses a two-stage process to vet the clinical trials portfolio and engage the community to assess clinical trial needs. Neda Hashemi, MD, chairs the Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee.
The CRO is also working with the Translational Science core to build a program that brings UNM Cancer Center discoveries to clinical trials.
Sarah Adams, MD, is developing the new Translational Science shared resource.
The CRO works with each of the Clinical Working Groups (CWGs) to identify and prioritize clinical trials that will benefit New Mexicans most.
- Heme CWG: L. Andritsos, MD
- Breast CWG: U. Brown-Glaberman, MD
- GI/HPB CWG: U. Brown-Glaberman, MD
- Gynecologic CWG: C. Muller, MD, FACOG
- Head and Neck CWG: D.Y. Lee, MD, PhD
- Lung CWG: A. Kumar, MD
- Melanoma CWG: M. Harari-Turquie, MD and B. Fahy, MD, FACS
- Genitourinary CWG: N. Hashemi, MD
- Pediatric and AYA CWG: J. Valdez, MD, MPH
- Population Science CWG: A. Sussman, PhD, MCRP
The CRO is funded in part by the UNM Cancer Center’s Minority-Based National Community Oncology Program (NCORP) Grant.