BrUOG’s main mission is to improve cancer care through the implementation of innovative, multidisciplinary cancer clinical trials. BrUOG provides the infrastructure for the efficient development and implementation of these trials, which are created by Brown University faculty. Before BrUOG was founded, there was no unifying body for such research and no infrastructure through which Brown’s myriad scientists and physicians could share, advance, and garner support for their ideas on the treatment of cancer.
Brown University Oncology Research Group
History
The Brown University Oncology Research Group (BrUOG) was created in 1994 to coordinate clinical cancer research for Brown’s affiliated hospitals and Alpert Medical School faculty.
History
The Brown University Oncology Research Group (BrUOG) was created in 1994 to coordinate clinical cancer research for Brown’s affiliated hospitals and Alpert Medical School faculty.
Founding Hospitals
The founding hospitals of BrUOG are Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Roger Williams Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, and Women & Infants Hospital, which administer care to the majority of trial patients today. BrUOG, however, is the engine: its administrators and physicians provide support for the initial study concept and validation of trial design, and are responsible for trial administration, safety monitoring, data analysis, and the presentation and publication of findings.
Our Accomplishments
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): BrUOG performed the sentinel Phase I and Phase II studies of paclitaxel/carboplatin/radiation therapy in NSCLC, which has formed the basis for the standard of care throughout the world for treatment of Stage 3 lung cancer. BrUOG is the leader in developing stereotactic radiation, a highly focused form of radiation for lung cancer.
- Esophageal Cancer: BrUOG has led the development of targeted agents in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Two current Phase III studies of the National Cancer Institute—investigating trastuzumab and cetuximab—were each based on BrUOG Phase I/II trials.
- Rectal Cancer: BrUOG is leading the development of chemotherapy and radiation before surgery to prevent local recurrence and to reduce the need for colostomy.
- Breast Cancer: BrUOG has concentrated on two important areas in breast cancer. For patients with metastatic breast cancer, BrUOG is developing more effective, less toxic and more convenient regimens. BrUOG has also been a leader in the development of neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment given prior to definitive breast surgery to reduce recurrence and the need for mastectomy.
- Pancreatic Cancer: BrUOG has developed more influential Phase I and II pancreatic cancer studies leading directly to Phase II and III cooperative group trials than any other cancer group in the world.
- Brain tumors: BrUOG is leading the development of new radiation sensitizers to treat glioblastoma, the most lethal primary brain tumor.
- Education: BrUOG teaches the fundamental of clinical cancer research and provides outstanding research opportunities for physicians in training.