RESEARCH NEWS

Left to right : Recipients of ACCRUAL awards for interventional clinical trials : Wade Kyono , MD , Paul Palalay , MD , Darryl Glaser , MD , Kelley Hutchins , DO , Ashley Springer , NP , Jonathan Cho , MD , Erin Capps , MD , Laura Peterson , MD , Ian Okazaki , MD and David Tamura , MD

ACCRUAL EVENT RECOGNIZES ACHIEVEMENTS IN CLINICAL TRIALS PARTICIPANT ENROLLMENTS

Accrual Leaders ( ACCRUAL ) event was held in January to recognize community partners — physicians , nurses and research administrators — for their achievements in enrolling patients onto clinical trials and engaging in other clinical research activities . The UH Cancer Center coordinates clinical trials through the Hawai ‘ i Cancer Consortium with oversight of trials at The Queen ’ s Medical Center , Hawai ‘ i Pacific Health , Kuakini Medical Center and private oncology practices .

“ We rely on our community partners to offer the best treatments possible through clinical trials ,” stated Jessica Rhee , MD , MS , medical director of the Cancer Center ’ s Clinical Trials Office . “ They contribute to the UH Cancer Center ’ s 20BY25 campaign goal of increasing clinical trials enrollment of all cancer patients in Hawai ‘ i to 20 percent by 2025 .”

WEINMAN SYMPOSIUM

Cancer Center in January . Eighteen speakers from across the nation presented their research . Lewis Cantley , PhD , Tak Mak , MD , PhD and Craig Thompson , MD , each received the Weinman Award for their important discoveries in cancer cell metabolism and development of new strategies to prevent and treat cancer . The Weinman Symposium is generously supported by the Weinman Foundation .

Med-QUEST patients ensured access to cancer clinical trials

Med-QUEST Division , a patient-centric Medicaid program , worked with the UH Cancer Center to ensure access to clinical trials for cancer patients in Hawai ‘ i . Med-QUEST issued a memorandum “ to provide guidance regarding the coverage of routine costs associated with qualifying clinical trials ” for the prevention , diagnosis , treatment or supportive care of cancer .

“ Hawai ‘ i was one of only a dozen states without legislation or a formal policy to provide coverage of routine care costs associated with cancer clinical trial participation for Medicaid beneficiaries , who make up about one quarter of the state ’ s population and over 40 percent of all of the children . The guidance clarified that Medicaid patients can participate in clinical trials ,” said Jessica Rhee , MD , MS , UH Cancer Center ’ s Clinical Trials Office medical director .

“ I ’ m very appreciative to Dr . Peterson , Dr . Curtis Toma , Med-QUEST medical director , and Dr . Rhee for working so diligently and collaboratively to create a policy that addresses the needs of some of the most vulnerable cancer patients in Hawai ‘ i ,” said Dr . Randall Holcombe , UH Cancer Center director . “ This is an effort supported by multiple state legislators and healthcare organizations .”

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Left to right : Barry Weinman , Virginia Weinman , Craig Thompson , MD , Lt . Gov . Josh Green , Lewis Cantley , MD , Tak Mak , MD and Michele Carbone , MD , PhD

Med-QUEST cancer patients in Hawai ‘ i receive coverage for routine care costs such as doctors ’ visits and laboratory tests . Unlike Medicare and private insurance , Med-QUEST is not federally required to cover these routine care costs for cancer patients participating in clinical trials . This policy guidance will ensure equal access to the best treatments available on clinical trials for Med-QUEST cancer patients .

For more information about UH Cancer Center clinical trials call ( 808 ) 586-2979 .