Two members of the Division of Information Sciences recently were honored for their role in developing the nation’s cancer research information infrastructure.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) formed the cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid, or caBIG, to improve data and knowledge sharing among researchers, physicians and patients. City of Hope has participated in caBIG since it began in 2003.
 Joyce Niland (Photo by Markie Ramirez) |
Joyce Niland, Ph.D., Edward and Estelle Alexander Chair in Information Sciences, and Susan Pannoni, project manager, received the caBIG Teamwork Award for their outstanding, continuing work in caBIG. The pair contributed significantly to a caBIG
effort called the Case Report Form Standardization Project Team.
Clinical researchers use case report forms to collect information on patients
participating in clinical trials, including responses to treatment, vital signs, adverse reactions and other study-related data.
The Case Report Form Standardization Project Team aims to make case report
forms more consistent for all NCI-sponsored studies so clinical trial teams across the nation can compare and compile information more effectively. The goal is to allow better monitoring of safety and treatment effectiveness and to help launch new clinical trials more quickly, which helps speed new treatments to patients.
“The goals of caBIG are completely in line with City of Hope’s mission to speed research and make research processes more efficient,” said Niland. “We’re honored by this recognition and pleased that our work is moving the program forward.”
Niland and Pannoni received the award at the caBIG Annual Meeting on June 24 in
Washington, D.C.