By Michael
B. Gorin, M.D., Ph.D.
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The article highlights the threat to the coalition to obtain
funding for clinical research trials in cancer by CRO's. However, Dr. Comis must realize
that some of these CRO's are being started by members of his own coalition, such as Dr.
Wolmark, who heads the NSABP, and UPMC HealthSystem, which participates in both ECOG and
NSABP trials (and others). Essentially this competition is arising within the ranks of the
cancer research community so that these institutions can more effectively compete for
research funds from nongovernment sources. The statement that these groups lack the
expertise of the coalition is misleading since many of these groups are, in fact, being
led by the leaders of cancer clinical research studies. I am not sure that allusions to
differences in quality are truly valid. |
