Wednesday, December 18, 2024 The Canadian Cancer Trials Group would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Erwin Wanderer, Bob Taylor, and Martina Wood for their commitment and dedication to the CCTG Patient Representative Committee. Erwin, Bob and Martina have completed their term on the committee and will be moving on from their invaluable role at CCTG at the end of 2024. Erwin Wanderer has been a CCTG patient representative since March 2015 as a valued member of the Genitourinary Disease Site Committee for almost ten years. Erwin was also a patient representative on the PM1/CAPTUR Trial Molecular Tumour board for several years. Those who worked with him will attest, he has provided excellent insights through his review of trials and has always been happy to step in providing input and support whenever a patient perspective was needed. "During my own brushes with cancer and even more importantly helping my mother deal with the cancer that ended her life, I realized that I was able to be an advocate for myself and my mother. I was honoured to stay involved as a CCTG patient representative in my retirement." Martina Wood has been a CCTG patient representative since March 2016 when she started as a member of the Gynecologic Disease Site Committee. In September 2018 she transitioned into the Breast Disease Site Committee, where she has since been an active patient advocate. Martina also served on the Clinical Trials Committee from 2019 to 2020. She also played a critical role in the Communications Working Group, providing a leading voice in the development of the CCTG patient plain language trial summaries, which has led to the development of trial information specifically geared to the needs of patients and their families. Her passion, leadership and advocacy will be sorely missed."When my husband was diagnosed, we were overwhelmed by a long complex document about a clinical trial to consider, but nobody took the time to explain anything – just take it home and read it. Thankfully, since that time CCTG has been improving patient information and consent communications. I hope clinicians are more involved today so that they understand and take the time to communicate the benefits and risks of the trial they are suggesting." Bob Taylor has been a CCTG patient representative since March 2015 when he started as a member of the Breast Disease Site Committee. In February 2021 he transitioned into the Data Safety Monitoring Committee, where he has been a member since and was also a member of the PM1/CAPTUR Trial Molecular Tumour Board. Recently Bob has played an active and dedicated role as part of the CCTG EDIIA Operations Working Group. Bob has shared his passionate input around the need to increase trial accrual and has been the patient voice behind our EDIIA initiatives, his invaluable contributions will be missed by everyone. "With an aging population, cancer is certain to increase so we need new and better treatments. We need technologies that can improve cure rates and reduce the negative side effects of treatments all while not bankrupting the health care system. That means we need new technologies – technologies whose efficacy can only be demonstrated through clinical trials." "I have worked with Bob, Martina and Erwin for many years and have developed a long-lasting friendship and deep respect for their commitment to CCTG. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for your incredible dedication and commitment to CCTG and our committee over the past several years. Your hard work, passion, and unwavering support have not only been invaluable to contributing to the success of CCTG clinical trials but have also made a lasting impact on the cancer patient community we serve. " Judy Needham, CCTG Patient Committee Chair.We hope you will join us in extending our gratitude and deep appreciation to Erwin, Bob and Martina for their participation and invaluable contributions over the last ten years.
