Chris White is a passionate advocate for cell therapies. He spends his time collaborating with patient advocacy groups, philanthropy organizations, and industry stakeholders focused on melanoma and cell therapy.
On May 23rd, Friends of Cancer Research hosted a public webinar, “Friends’ Cell Therapies Webinar for Advocates,” spotlighting the pivotal role of patient advocacy and cell and gene therapies in cancer care. Dr. Alex Marson from Gladstone Institutes presented CRISPR’s potential in cancer immunotherapy, while Chris White, author and patient advocate, shared his journey with metastatic melanoma and the success of a tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy trial, emphasizing the impact of cell therapies in remission. The webinar bridged the gap between research and tangible patient outcomes by facilitating an open dialogue and an engaging Q&A session between the live audience and panelists.
While significant progress has been made in cancer treatment and care, this progress has not always easily translated to new treatments for pediatric oncology patients. In 2003, the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) passed requiring the study of cancer therapeutics in certain pediatric cases.
On May 6th, Friends of Cancer Research and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy hosted a public meeting, “Unlocking Complex Cell-Based Therapies,” to discuss innovative frameworks and proposals for enhancing the safety, expansion, and activity of the next generation of cell-based gene therapies. Panels addressed operational and biological challenges to advancing cell and gene therapies, novel approaches to clinical trials, the expansion of cell therapies for solid tumors, and included patient insights and experiences with these complex therapies.
On February 15th, Friends of Cancer Research hosted a virtual public meeting, “Enhancing Diversity in Clinical Trials: Implementation of Diversity Plans,” emphasizing the importance of ensuring diverse representation in clinical trials to promote health equity, minimize biases, and foster holistic approaches in scientific research.
On September 26th, Friends of Cancer Research hosted, “Future in Focus: Digital Pathology in Oncology Drug Development,” a virtual public meeting to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and promises of digital and computational pathology in oncology drug development.
On September 11, 2023 Friends of Cancer Research hosted a public meeting, “Supporting the Use of RWD in Oncology Drug Development”, in Washington, DC. The meeting included a presentation of findings from the Friends Real-world Response (rw-Response) Pilot and two panel discussions focused on the regulatory implications for use of RWD and RWE in oncology drug development.
Dear Advocates, Welcome to the third edition of the Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) Quarterly Advocacy Newsletter. We’re excited to share more about what we’ve been working on at Friends and let you know about upcoming public events and research milestones. Here’s what you can read more about in this newsletter: What’s Happening at Friends?:…
