Pennell NA, Dillmon M, Levit LA, Moushey EA, Alva AS, Blau S, Cannon TL, Dickson NR, Diehn M, Gonen M, Gonzalez MM, Hensold JO, Hinyard LJ, King T, Lindsey SC, Magnuson A, Marron J, McAneny BL, McDonnell TM, Mileham KF, Nasso SF, Nowakowski GS, Oettel KR, Patel MI, Patt DA, Perlmutter J, Pickard TA, Rodriguez G, Rosenberg AR, Russo B, Szczepanek C, Smith CB, Srivastava P, Teplinsky E, Thota R, Traina TA, Zon R, Bourbeau B, Bruinooge SS, Foster S, Grubbs S, Hagerty K, Hurley P, Kamin D, Phillips J, Schenkel C, Schilsky RL, and Burris HA 3rd more...
This report presents the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO's) evaluation of the adaptations in care delivery, research operations, and regulatory oversight made in response to the coronavirus pandemic and presents recommendations for moving forward as the pandemic recedes. ASCO organized its recommendations for clinical research around five goals to ensure lessons learned from the COVID-19 experience are used to craft a more equitable, accessible, and efficient clinical research system that protects patient safety, ensures scientific integrity, and maintains data quality. The specific goals are: (1) ensure that clinical research is accessible, affordable, and equitable; (2) design more pragmatic and efficient clinical trials; (3) minimize administrative and regulatory burdens on research sites; (4) recruit, retain, and support a well-trained clinical research workforce; and (5) promote appropriate oversight and review of clinical trial conduct and results. Similarly, ASCO also organized its recommendations regarding cancer care delivery around five goals: (1) promote and protect equitable access to high-quality cancer care; (2) support safe delivery of high-quality cancer care; (3) advance policies to ensure oncology providers have sufficient resources to provide high-quality patient care; (4) recognize and address threats to clinician, provider, and patient well-being; and (5) improve patient access to high-quality cancer care via telemedicine. ASCO will work at all levels to advance the recommendations made in this report. more...