Blog: Engaging Innovation

May 12, 2026

Meeting Recap | Unlocking Next-Generation Therapies

On May 6, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy co-hosted a public meeting, “Unlocking Next-Generation Therapies” to explore opportunities to advance next-generation therapies, including innovative approaches in cell therapy development. The oncology landscape has shifted dramatically over the last 30 years, transitioning from chemotherapy-based treatment toward molecularly and immunologically…

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Grace Collins | May 1, 2026

Stakeholder Connect | Insights from the April 30 Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) Meeting

What was the committee asked to consider? On April 30, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) to consider the benefits and risks of two regimens for treatment of cancer.    The morning session focused on the results of the SERENA-6 trial, which was intended to support a new…

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April 14, 2026

Meeting Recap | Application of External Control Arms in Oncology Drug Development

On April 7, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) hosted a public meeting, “Application of External Control Arms in Oncology Drug Development” to explore opportunities to advance the use of external control arms (ECAs) in oncology drug development. ECAs are constructed from external data sources, such as prior clinical trials or real-world data (RWD), and can provide valuable comparative evidence for evaluating new therapies, particularly when traditional randomized controlled…

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February 17, 2026

Meeting Recap | Modernizing Oncology Endpoints: Pathways for Evidence and Policy

On February 5th, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) hosted a public meeting, “Modernizing Oncology Endpoints: Pathways for Evidence and Policy” to examine how emerging early endpoints, including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tumor assessments, may improve trial efficiency and inform regulatory decision-making. Realizing this potential will require convergence around evidentiary standards, scalable validation frameworks, and regulatory pathways that enable innovation to move beyond pilots and into predictable,…

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Elena Levi-D'Ancona, PhD | January 28, 2026

Project Pulse | Modernizing Tumor Assessment: Integrating AI into Oncology Clinical Trials

Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) convened a multidisciplinary working group to examine how to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into tumor assessment workflows in oncology clinical trials. The group developed a white paper exploring the potential of emerging AI-enabled tools to enhance tumor assessment, as well as key considerations for the adoption and regulatory approval of AI-enabled imaging endpoints that…

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Elena Levi-D'Ancona, PhD | January 16, 2026

Project Pulse | Evaluating AI Agreement in HER2 Assessment Using Whole-Slide Imaging: Insights from the Digital PATH Project

Biomarkers play a key role in identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from specific therapies, and advances in digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) are beginning to reshape how those biomarkers are assessed. Scientists use assays, or tests to assess biomarkers. Outputs from different assays may provide different results, which could impact the…

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Elena Levi-D'Ancona, PhD | January 9, 2026

Data-Driven Insights | The Biomarker Qualification Program: Takeaways and Recommendations

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) allows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees from drug sponsors that streamline reviews of new drug applications, promoting timely patient access without compromising safety. When the Act is reauthorized every five years, industry and FDA discuss goals to support and improve the drug review process. With PDUFA negotiations for the 2027 reauthorization now…

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November 21, 2025

Meeting Recap | Advocates Webinar: Annual Meeting 2025

On November 17, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) convened or an advocates-focused webinar to discuss key themes from the 2025 Annual Meeting and examine how patient experience informs evidence generation, trial design, and regulatory decision-making. We were honored to feature advocate panelists, Kristin McJunkins, Misha Mehta, Susan Rouse, Carol Vallett, and Chris white, who drew…

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November 7, 2025

Meeting Recap | Friends of Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025

On Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) hosted its 18th Annual Meeting, bringing together experts from industry, academia, regulatory agencies, and patient advocacy. Over the past few months, Friends members Bernat Navarro-Serer, Hillary Andrews, and Mark Stewart hosted biweekly calls with expert working groups to discuss pressing topics in oncology clinical research that led to white papers released before the event. Each session at the Annual Meeting began with a brief presentation by the moderator,…

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Elena Levi-D'Ancona | October 3, 2025

Project Pulse | The Latest ctMoniTR Publication: Findings and Implications

This blog post provides an overview of a recent ctMoniTR publication from Friends. A graphical abstract below summarizes the manuscript’s approach, findings, and context. Background  In oncology clinical trials, the gold standard approach for measuring efficacy of cancer therapies is by determining overall survival (OS), or the length of time a patient lives after starting…

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