Management

The scientific priorities, processes and activities of the Program are determined and implemented through a structure that includes three committees:

  1. HICT Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which provides oversight of strategic priorities and activities.
  2. Executive Committee (EC), which provides operational oversight of program activities.
  3. Program Management Committee, which includes project leaders and additional stakeholders.

These committees will work to ensure that the HICT Program is receptive to the advances made by OICR programs and Ontario research collaborators, and allow for rapid and efficient identification and testing of the most promising discoveries. Processes are developed to allow for a “dynamic” priority setting consistent with the strategic priorities of OICR and other Ontario stakeholders for the benefit of Ontario cancer patients. Decision making processes will allow for both “top-down” priorities led by OICR and for “bottom-up” activities that arise from the strengths, interest and priorities of investigator collaborators.

Image demonstrating management structure

Scientific Advisory Board

The HICT SAB is composed of international leaders with expertise and knowledge in matters related to the Program, including translational research, experimental therapeutics, molecular pathology, pharmacology, medical imaging and biostatistics. The HICT SAB will provide recommendations for the Program’s strategic priorities, help evaluate the scientific progress of the Program, suggest changes in the scope and direction of the Program’s scientific and clinical activities, and advise on policies and trends in healthcare management and economics, science and technology related to the Program.

SAB members include:

  • CHAIR, Herbie Newell (expertise: translational research);
  • Alex Adjei (expertise: experimental therapeutics, pharmacology);
  • David Huntsman (expertise: molecular pathology);
  • Gary Clark (expertise: biostatistics); and
  • Daniel Sullivan (expertise: medical imaging).

Program Management Committee (PMC)

The PMC will enhance and support efforts to develop high quality translational research in clinical trials within the Program, to recommend strategic priorities, and to review and make recommendations on on-going program activities. PMC members are responsible for developing and implementing the HICT Program’s scientific agenda. Their roles include: input in determining a translational research strategic agenda and individual trial concepts; developing collaborations with other provincial, national and international partners; activating and accruing to trials; ensuring the collection of specimens; analyzing results; developing secondary hypotheses for additional analysis; and identifying, engaging and promoting the roles of its members, including new investigators.

Key objectives of the PMC

  • Act as a hub for trial identification and information exchange;
  • Act as a catalyst to initiate projects and needed collaborations;
  • Ensure a strategic alliance between OICR and the Ontario-based clinical trial groups and scientists for the realization of the OICR Strategic Plan; and
  • Be responsible for the planning and management the Program’s activities.

Activities for the PMC

  • Oversight of the development and achievement of program milestones and deliverables;
  • Assist in evaluating the progress of program activities and reporting progress to OICR on a quarterly basis;
  • Review and recommend adjustments to research activities/projects to ensure attainment of Program goals and adherence to OICR-approved budget (through regular meetings where updates are provided and discussions follow);
  • Participate in an annual review of HICT Program projects together with the HICT SAB, resulting in decisions for individual projects, reallocation of budget funds if necessary, in addition to re-evaluation of the scientific direction of the Program; and
  • Promote the identification of “best-practices” in biomarker clinical trials through research, workshops and other educational activities.

The PMC Executive Committee (EC) is led by Dr. Janet Dancey, the HICT Program Leader. The PMC EC will be responsible for the foundational, “top-down” scientific strategic priorities of the HICT Program in addition to providing final decisions/recommendations to the Program Leader on budgets, projects, and important issues that have broad implications to the Program. EC members have content expertise in the fields of molecular pathology, imaging, experimental therapeutics, pharmacology and biostatistics.