Urologic Cancer Outreach Program

 

Guidelines: Each participating UCOP institution/program is directed by a urologic oncologist serving as Principal Investigator, with participation from investigators of major disciplines (medical oncology, surgery, radiotherapy, and pathology). In addition, each institution must have adequate support personnel (nurse oncologists and clinical research associates) to assist in patient care and extensive data management. All participating institutions are also required to document resources for substantial patient accrual to genitourinary trials. UCOP institutions follow all rules/mandates enforced for the Group-at-large, but also function through the Genitourinary Cancer Committee to assist in protocol development. The UCOP director is E. David Crawford, M.D., of the University of Colorado.

 

How to Apply: A formal application request must be submitted to: Membership Department Southwest Oncology Group Operations Office 14980 Omicron Drive San Antonio, TX 78245-3217 In order to adequately evaluate your application for consideration as a UCOP member, the following application guidelines should be followed to provide a concise and complete description of your urologic program. I. Background Information A brief description of the lead institution and community demographics. II. Program Organization and Participating Clinical Facilities Provide a profile of your current oncology/urology effort. This should include an outline of your department/division (current staff and facilities such as radiotherapy equipment) and a review of the collaborative interaction between the urologic program with medical oncology, radiotherapy and pathology. Examples such as multidisciplinary protocols, conferences, should be mentioned. Please identify all clinics/hospitals who will be participating on the UCOP program (if more than one facility other than the lead institution will be used for patient treatment). Also include in your description for your program prior collaborations on urologic projects if applicable (e.g., prior cooperative group participation, institutional urologic trials) and current research interests. A descriptive plan for collaboration on the UCOP program should be provided. This would be a description of protocol management (IRB review, informed consent process, update of protocol action and the process for completion of data collection forms). III. Patient Resources for Accrual Documentation of patient resources to ensure adequate accrual. This may be in the form of prior accrual to clinical trials (intra-institutional and/or through cooperative group membership), tumor registry data, or summary of clinical data. Please present this information in table format for ease in review. Data should include information from the last two years. IV. Principal Investigator and Associate Investigators The Principal Investigator and all other associate investigators who will accrue to Group studies must be members of the Southwest Oncology Group. Membership is open to investigators who have completed a medical fellowship program or the Southwest Oncology Group's Young Investigators Workshop (offered once a year). The curriculum vitae of the Principal Investigator and all associate investigators who will be involved in the institutional program should be enclosed with the application.     Principal Investigator A Principal Investigator must be identified who will assume responsibility for the overall scope of the institutional program. A summary of the designated Principal Investigator's experience in urologic oncology clinical research including current/past membership in any oncology programs (e.g., cooperative group; state and/or local programs; national societies) should be provided. Briefly review intra-institutional and/or cooperative group trials in which the Principal Investigator has participated and/or coordinated. Evidence of any experience in a leadership role should be included. Indicate the level of support anticipated for the Principal Investigator's coordination of the UCOP effort. Suggested level of effort is listed below:   Position Time/Effort     Percent   Hours/Week   Principal Investigator 10% 4     Associate Investigators Each Associate Investigator participating in the UCOP effort should be identified, with a description of prior oncology clinical research experience provided (see guidelines for Principal Investigator). Multidiscipline participation in this endeavor is important and a Medical Oncologist, Radiotherapist and Pathologist should be identified and listed with this application. Indicate the level of support anticipated for each Associate Investigator; suggested levels of effort are listed below:   Position Time/Effort     Percent   Hours/Week   Medical Oncologist 5% 2   Radiation Therapist 5% 2   Pathologist 5% 2 V. Support Personnel Please identify any additional support personnel relative to data management and nursing oncology who will be involved in the institutional program. Provide an outline of their current responsibilities and their anticipated role in the UCOP effort. The level of support anticipated for each should be indicated. The suggested level of support for a nurse/clinical research associate would be 100% (40 hours per week). A Head Clinical Research Associate (CRA) should be identified as a primary contact for the institutional program. VI. Letters of Support This may include any letters of support received from the hospital administration, Institutional Review Board, or other sources. VII. Appendix All other supporting information or documents the applicant institution wishes to submit.