Press Releases

June 17, 2025

New Framework Proposes Efficient Pathway to Advance Cell-Based Gene Therapies

A new framework developed in partnership with Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy was published in The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, “Intentional heterogeneity in autologous cell-based gene therapies: strategic considerations for first-in-human trials.” This pertinent collaborative manuscript emphasizes the need for flexible approaches to efficiently characterize and advance…

June 16, 2025

New Analysis Shows Clinical Trial Flexibilities Can Maintain Data Quality While Improving Patient Access

A new meta-analysis published in JCO Oncology Advances by Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) finds that flexibilities implemented in cancer clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic did not compromise data quality. These findings support the broader adoption of decentralized trial elements to improve access and representativeness across…

May 20, 2025

New Analysis Describes Flexibility Associated with Companion Diagnostic Development for Rare Cancer Biomarkers

A new analysis from Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) characterizes flexibilities utilized in the development of companion diagnostics (CDx). Reviewing Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data (SSED) documents from FDA Premarket Approval applications (PMA) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the analysis describes how alternative sample sources can be leveraged for CDx validation, particularly when sample…

April 22, 2025

New Findings From the Friends of Cancer Research ctMoniTR Project

Washington, DC – New findings from Friends of Cancer Research (Friends)’s ctMoniTR Project were published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. This important publication demonstrated in an aggregate analysis of eight clinical trials of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI),…

April 15, 2025

Project Announcement: Friends of Cancer Research ai.RECIST Project

Washington, DC – The Artificial Intelligence-Based Measurement of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (ai.RECIST) Project aims to answer the question: Can artificial intelligence (AI)-based imaging tools improve tumor measurement? By enhancing the speed and reliability of tumor measurements, AI has the potential to accelerate clinical trial progress and improve patient access to effective treatments. Visit…

March 28, 2025

A Weakened FDA and NIH Will Hurt Patients, Science, and the Economy

At Friends of Cancer Research, we have long been committed to increasing efficiency in the development of new medicines through advancing groundbreaking science and innovative policy. The recent announcement that 3,500 FDA staff will be let go underscores just how serious and immediate the consequences of these cuts have become. Alongside broader reductions at NIH…

March 3, 2025

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli Joins Friends of Cancer Research Board of Directors

Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is honored to announce the addition of former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, to its Board of Directors. “Dr. Bertagnolli has built her incredible career around improving the lives of patients through advancing science and public health and increased access to care,” said Friends’ Chair & Founder, Ellen…

February 12, 2025

A Weakened FDA and NIH Will Hurt Patients, Science, and the Economy

At Friends of Cancer Research, we have long been committed to increasing efficiency in the development of new medicines through advancing groundbreaking science and innovative policy. Drastic cuts to the workforce at the FDA, NIH, and other key health agencies threaten to undermine the very foundation of American scientific leadership, innovation, and public health. These agencies are…

January 21, 2025

Friends Announces Janet Woodcock and Paul Kim’s Appointment to Board of Directors

Washington, DC – Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Janet Woodcock, Former Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Paul Kim, Principal of Kendall Square Policy Strategies LLC, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Janet Woodcock…

December 12, 2024

New Findings from the Friends of Cancer Research Digital PATH Project

Washington, DC – New findings by Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) and collaborators were presented yesterday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), “Agreement Across 10 Artificial Intelligence Models in Assessing HER2 in Breast Cancer Whole Slide Images: Findings from the Friends of Cancer Research Digital PATH Project.” The poster presented the agreement of…

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