The Children’s Oncology Group Adolescent and Young Adult Responsible Investigator Network: A New Model for Addressing Site-Level Factors Impacting Clinical Trial Enrollment

Roth M, Mittal N, Saha A, Freyer DR. The Children’s Oncology Group Adolescent and Young Adult Responsible Investigator Network: A New Model for Addressing Site-Level Factors Impacting Clinical Trial Enrollment. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2020 Aug;9(4):522-527. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2019.0139. Epub 2020 Feb 20. PubMed PMID: 32077782; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7415882.

In the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), there is precedent for scientific committees designating institutional Responsible Investigators (RIs) to promote clinical trial enrollment and coordinate related research activities. In response to low enrollment of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) on COG clinical trials, the COG AYA RI Network was established. Leveraging this network, we undertook an initiative to identify site-level factors influencing AYA enrollment. The overarching goal of the AYA RI Network is to increase AYA enrollment onto COG trials. At each site, RIs highlight AYA disparities, facilitate activation of relevant trials, improve recruitment processes, and expand interactions with medical oncologists. Through a series of monthly national webinars and workshops, participating RIs reported local barriers and facilitators enrolling AYAs. A mixed-methods approach was utilized to determine major themes of factors affecting site-level enrollment.