Adedayo Onitilo, M.D., Ph.D., the medical director for Cancer Care & Research, was recently appointed to the American Society of Clinic Oncology (ASCO) Cancer Research Committee for a 3-year term and to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Ad Hoc Working Group on Clinical Trials Enrollment and Retention.
Dr. Onitilo is a leader in the Wisconsin National Community Oncology Research Program (WiNCORP), a Wisconsin cancer clinical trial network that was awarded $15.6 million in 2019 by the National Cancer Institute.
Under Dr. Onitilo's leadership, accruals rose sharply in the last years of the previous 5-year grant, more than quadrupling numbers in previous years. These accruals caused WiNCORP to receive Platinum status as a NCORP. Dr. Onitilo and his team also were recognized for having the highest number of treatment enrollments for a single clinician in the national program over the last two years.
“The team at Cancer Care & Research has made amazing strides in recent years, which have included increasing access to important clinical trials for our cancer patients," Dr. Onitilo said. “Through my work with these committees, I hope to contribute my quota in improving clinical trial programs across the nation while also bringing valuable information back to our patients here at the Health System."
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology is the world's leading professional organization for physicians and oncology professionals caring for people with cancer. The Cancer Research Committee develops, promotes and implements ASCO's activities related to cancer research and serves as a primary resource to ASCO in the development of research-related public policy and issue analysis.
“Over the last few years, Dr. Onitilo has taken cancer clinical trials to the next level for the Health System," said Amit Acharya, Ph.D., B.D.S., executive director of the Research Institute. “We are proud to have him represent our organization on this committee."