March 2021 Update

First MCGI Patient Enrolled in the TAPUR Study

Two months after MCGI announced its role as a coordinating center in the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) novel clinical trial, the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR™) study, we are excited to announce the enrollment of the first MCGI patient. This milestone serves as an early and significant step for MCGI and northern New England oncology communities. 

Monthly meetings for clinical research staff at practices participating in TAPUR™ will begin in April. During these meetings, we will review study accrual, data quality and requirements and study communications from ASCO. In addition, these meetings will give site PIs and staff the opportunity to ask questions and review potential cases.

We look forward to helping facilitate another treatment option for patients in northern New England, to providing greater opportunity for the rural oncology community to participate in clinical trials and to facilitating access to targeted precision therapies.

MCGI 2.0 Update

The MCGI team continues to work towards the rollout for MCGI 2.0 which includes the second observational study protocol. Meetings for MCGI 2.0 with practice research staff will begin in early April as we initiate new patient accrual. 

As part of this next phase of MCGI, our team has recruited a genomic navigator. This person will work closely with the MCGI team and physicians, provider practices and staff at study sites across Maine and New Hampshire to connect patients with appropriate genomic testing and cancer therapies. We look forward to welcoming her to the team within the coming month. 

Thank you for your continued support of MCGI.

2021 Virtual MCGI Forum a Success

The MCGI team hosted its first Virtual MCGI Forum on March 26 - 27. We were delighted to welcome over 300 oncologists, nurses, genetic counselors, researchers and others for conversations surrounding precision oncology. Speakers included leading experts across the field including Richard Schilsky, M.D. of ASCO and Jedd Wolchok, M.D., Ph.D. of MSKCC.

It was an especially affirming experience to be together, albeit virtually, with oncologists from Maine and beyond after a full year of COVID-19 challenges. In addition to New England participants, we were pleased to welcome attendees both nationwide and from 22 countries. Although we look forward to in-person gatherings soon, it was a pleasure to interact with colleagues from near and far. Our event recap will be available soon. For more information on how to obtain a copy, please email mcgi@jax.org.