2009-12-07
If you have the chance to train
abroad, go back to your country. Turn the apparent weaknesses of your country —
malnutrition, poverty — into strengths.” Dr. Guillermo Ruiz-Argüelles imparted
this wisdom to early-career Latin American researchers last spring in São Paulo, Brazil,
during the NCI-ASH Hematology Clinical Trials Workshop, which took place prior
to the Highlights of ASH®
meeting. This collaboration between ASH and NCI’s newly established Office of
Latin American Cancer Program Development (OLACPD) brought investigators
together to learn about basic components of hematologic clinical research,
including selecting the research team, formulating a research concept and protocol,
and implementing the plan.
One of the most exciting aspects for the participants was
the chance to listen to “real-life” lessons from the workshop faculty
organizers, speakers, and moderators — some of the foremost clinical
researchers in hematology from Latin America, the United States, and Europe.
Faculty discussed the internal review board, funding matters, and topics unique
to Latin America. “I learned about the
importance of a multidisciplinary team and inter-institutional dialogue,” one
participant commented. “I felt happy to know about the serious work that NCI
and ASH are doing to improve our skills in research.”
Members of the International Consortium on Acute
Promyelocytic Leukemia (IC-APL) shared their triumphs and challenges, and
faculty discussed the special considerations necessary to conduct research
cross-culturally. According to Dr. Raul Ribeiro, head of the International
Outreach Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,
these considerations extend beyond the trial’s scientific merit to the impact
the results will have on the local community. The partner site must have the
opportunity and infrastructure to develop the
clinical trial. Both sites must be able to sustain their partnership to
continue building upon the results disclosed through clinical trials.
The NCI-ASH Hematology Clinical Trials Workshop marked the
first collaboration between ASH and the OLACPD. “Through this workshop, our
mutual goal is to increase the number of Latin American hematologists in
clinical research,” said Dr. Jorge Gomez, director of OLACPD and co-chair of
the workshop. Dr. Nancy Berliner, ASH president and co-chair of the workshop
agreed, noting, “It’s been a pleasure working with OLACPD to help facilitate
the next generation of clinical researchers in Latin
America.”
For more information about ASH’s Global Programs
and Services, visit the ASH Booth, #129.
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