Society For Translational Oncology Inc

AS A NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY PROFESSIONALS, STO HELPS IMPROVE THE QUALITY, SAFETY AND EQUITY OF CARING FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND OTHERS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS BY ENSURING THE FOLLOWING EXPECTED RESULTS ARE FULFILLED VIA ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: (1) KNOWLEDGE AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN CANCER TREATMENT ARE BROUGHT FORTH TO COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY CARE TEAMS; (2) THE TRANSLATIONAL GAP BETWEEN DISCOVERY AND DELIVERY OF CARE TO THE PATIENT IS BRIDGED BY PROVIDING CONTENT THAT IS EVIDENCE-BASED AND FALLS WITHIN THE DISCIPLINE OF CLINICAL MEDICINE; (3) CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ARE RELEVANT AND IMPACT THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PHARMACISTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HEALTHCARE TEAMS WHO NOT ONLY TREAT PATIENTS WITH CANCER BUT OTHERS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS; (4) ACTIVITIES IMPACT THE PERFORMANCE OF PHYSICIANS AND OTHER INT

HARMONY/GLOBAL HARMONIZATION OF CANCER TRIALS IS A MULTI-YEAR STO GUIDED INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. GLOBAL HARMONIZATION WOULD ALLOW FOR SEAMLESS DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER THERAPIES USING COMMON STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES THAT HARMONIZE INDUSTRY, INSTITUTIONAL, AND REGULATORY PRACTICES ACROSS THE GLOBE. THE FOCUS OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE HARMONIZATION ACROSS FOUR REGIONS: THE UNITED STATES, GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA); THE EUROPEAN UNION, GOVERNED BY THE EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY (EMA); CHINA, GOVERNED BY THE NATIONAL MEDICAL PRODUCTS ADMINISTRATION (NMPA); AND AFRICA, GOVERNED BY THE AFRICAN MEDICINES AGENCY (AMA).

THE SOCIETY FOR TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY (STO) IS A 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES HIGH-QUALITY, EQUITABLE PATIENT CARE AND FOSTERS THE DISCOVERY AND CLINICAL TRANSLATION OF IMPORTANT NEW THERAPIES THAT ENHANCE THE PRACTICE OF GLOBAL ONCOLOGY AS WELL AS SUPPORTS THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES THAT IMPACT CANCER PATIENTS AND OTHERS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, THUS HELPING PROTECT THE VULNERABLE FROM LIFE-THREATENING INFECTIONS. STO BRIDGES A TRANSLATIONAL GAP BETWEEN DRUG DISCOVERY AND APPROVED DRUG DELIVERY WITH A PORTFOLIO OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR PHYSICIANS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM. STO'S DECADES-LONG COMMITMENT TO TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INCLUDES FELLOWSHIPS IN BOTH CANCER AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES. THE LATTER HAS BECOME A CRITICAL STO COMMITMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FROM THE GLOBAL GENESIS TO WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION OF NEW VACCINES AND IMPROVED THERAPEUTICS. STO IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVITY, AND EQUITY THROUGHOUT OUR PROGRAMS.

WE CONTINUED OUR ANNUAL INTENSIVE FORUM, STOFF, THAT BRINGS TOGETHER 25 FELLOWS AND JUNIOR CANCER RESEARCHERS WITHIN 5 YEARS OF TRAINING COMPLETION FROM LEADING MEDICAL, SURGICAL, RADIATION, AND PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY GROUPS AND SUBSPECIALTY FELLOWSHIPS TO EDUCATE THESE RISING STARS ON ISSUES AROUND AND BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL TRANSLATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH. THE BROAD-BASED CURRICULUM COVERED A RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO NEW DRUG DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, IT ADDRESSED KEY ISSUES THAT EARLY-CAREER ONCOLOGISTS MAY FACE. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF STOFF AND WHAT SETS IT APART FROM OTHER PROGRAMS IS THE FACULTY TO FELLOW RATIO OF 1:1.5. TRAINEES HAVE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHER SCIENTISTS AND CLINICIANS REGARDING TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH EFFORTS THAT BENEFIT FROM MULTIDISCPLINARY AND INTERPROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATION.

WE CONTINUED A MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MD ANDERSON AND AXDEV WHICH WILL CONCLUDE IN 2024. THIS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT: OPTIMIZING INTEGRATION OF MOLECULAR TESTING IN LUNG AND THYROID CANCERS IS AIMED AT PROVIDING A ROADMAP OF LESSONS LEARNED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MOLECULAR TESTING. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO IDENTIFY THE ELEMENTS OF BEST PRACTICES FROM THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT WHICH COULD BE REPLICATED IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND DEVELOP A NATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM TO GUIDE DEPLOYMENT OF SIMILAR INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE AWARENESS, ACCESS, AND INTEGRATION OF MOLECULAR TESTING ACROSS THE US AND MEASURE THE IMPACT (TO HELP OTHER COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY SITES WITHIN THE MDACC NETWORK AS WELL AS OUTSIDE OF IT).