Integration of Clinical Trial Development in Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Training.

Abstract

Problem: Several barriers to physicians becoming clinical investigators exist, including inexperience, lack of available mentors, and inconsistent instructive approaches with varying degrees of participation during training. These barriers cause fewer hematology-oncology fellows to pursue academic careers. A consensus is needed on structuring education in clinical investigation paired with active participation in development of a clinical trial guided by a mentor with the goal of increasing fellow interest in clinical research and pursuit of careers in academic medicine.

Approach: The clinical trial development (CTD) program was initiated at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 2002 as a hands-on learning experience for hematology and oncology fellows in the design, implementation, and publication of clinical trials. Each fellow was required to identify a mentor and propose at least 1 prospective investigator-initiated clinical trial.

Outcomes: At the time of data abstraction in July 2023, 118 fellows had participated in the CTD program and initiated protocols in a variety of areas according to their interests. Fellows were included in data abstraction if their fellowship began in 2002 through 2021; the program is ongoing, and the most recent class will graduate in 2024. Disease types were evenly distributed between solid tumor oncology (60 [51%]) or classic and malignant hematology (58 [49%]). Ninety-three fellows (79%) obtained institutional review board approval, and 60 (65%) published their results. Among graduating fellows, 67 (66%) secured an academic faculty appointment. Fellows with institutional review board-approved projects had significantly higher odds of obtaining an academic faculty appointment (odds ratio, 4.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-15.98; P = .007).

Next steps: Next steps will be to further evaluate the effect of the mentorship network on early career productivity of trainees that graduate and the feasibility of extending the program to another institution.