New Investigator Cancer Trials Practicum

Applications are now closed and will reopen in January 2025.

The purpose of the CCTG New Investigator Cancer Trials Practicum is to deliver a training program that includes practical trial experience at cancer sites throughout Canada over a one-year period. This unique program and the first of its kind in Canada. It enables the best and brightest new Canadian oncology researchers to acquire training and experience in cancer clinical trial conduct. At the culmination of training, researchers will receive the Cancer Trials Investigator Certificate as proof of their expertise.

The certificate program will contain two components:

1. A 12-month curriculum including observer-ships at CCTG disease site committee meetings and other key CCTG scientific committees; opportunity to receive teaching and mentorship through the CCTG Operations and Statistic Centre on practical aspects of clinical trial conduct not readily available at other courses;
2. Direct clinical trial mentorship at the site through involvement in a CCTG clinical trial.

Eligible Applicants

Ideally, applicants will have completed their oncology (medical, radiation and surgical) or hematology specialist training and be within two years of their first faculty position (fellows transitioning into faculty at that site will be eligible). The new investigator must be a qualified, registered investigator with the expectation of enrollment of patients from their practice. They will have an experienced investigator mentor at the site and the site must be participating in, or agree to activate, one of the selected CCTG clinical trials. The new investigator may serve as local Qualified Investigator with the mentor. The centre representative must confirm site support for the applicant. Non-hematologists or oncologists and those beyond 2 years of their first faculty appointment who are interested in participating in this program may also apply after preliminary discussion with Dr. Bradbury.

Eligible Site Mentors

Eligible sites mentors are CCTG investigators in good standing, with experience in leading or participating in cancer clinical trials who agree to guide the applicant on trial activities through the duration of the practicum.

Application

1.    A covering letter containing:

• Brief biography including education, research experience and clinical trial experience;
• Reason for interest in the practicum;
• Trial and scientific committee of interest to participate in activities over the 12 months;
• Name of mentor.

2.    Applicant Curriculum vitae

3.    Letter from site mentor containing:

• Brief biography;
• Confirmation of interest, ability and availability to meet the applicant and mentor them in the areas outlined in the practicum.

4.    Letter from the CCTG centre representative confirming support for the applicant and practicum activities.

The 12-month certificate program will commence at the New Investigator meeting at the CCTG annual meeting in the spring of 2024. The new investigators that complete all the assigned components and receive satisfactory feedback from mentors will receive the CCTG certificate at the plenary session following CCTG annual spring meeting. Funding will be provided to cover transportation/accommodation for applicants related to the practicum activities.

Interested applicants should submit applications by email:

• Penelope Bradbury, MD, CCTG Practicum Educational Leader Penelope.Bradbury@uhn.ca
• Janet Dancey, MD, FRCPC, Director, Canadian Cancer Trials Group jdancey@ctg.queensu.ca

The investigator will have the following opportunities over the 12-month practicum:

• Attendance at the annual spring meeting and fall Investigational New Drugs meeting in Toronto;
• Participation in an orientation meeting at the Operations and Statistical Centre in Kingston;
• Participation in a site monitoring visit (average of two nights accommodation and transportation);
• Participation in trial and scientific committee conference calls and webexes;
• Participation in at least one meeting of the CCTG Data Safety and Monitoring Committee and CCTG Clinical Trials Committee.

A special congratulations to the 2024-2025 participants.

2023-2024 Practicum Graduates

2022-2023 Practicum Graduates

2020-2022 Practicum Graduates

2019-2020 Practicum Graduates

Thai-HoaTran

Dr. Tran is Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist, Leukemia Program, at CHU Sainte-Justine and Clinical Adjunct Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal.

Jacques Raphael

Dr. Raphael is a Medical Oncologist at London Regional Cancer Program. Assistant Professor of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. His research interests include breast and Lung Cancer particularly in early phase drug trials and biomarker studies.

Ayesha Bashir

Dr. Bashir is an Oncologist with Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina and Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Ali Hosni Abdalaty

Dr. Hosni Abdalaty is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and Radiation Oncologist with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the Radiation Medicine Program at UHN.

Aly Khan Lalani

Dr. Lalani is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University and a Medical Oncologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre.

Terry Ng

Dr. Terry Ng is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and a Clinician-Investigator in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Ng’s research interests have focused on treatment-related adverse events.

2018-2019 Practicum Graduates