Arzu Onar-Thomas Group

Once a trial is underway, our group plays an integral role in patient safety by monitoring studies in real time to identify any events that would trigger adjustments to a study medication, and we conduct interim analyses that may point to a study’s potential early efficacy or futility. In addition to brain tumor clinical trials developed and conducted at St. Jude, the team supports efforts within the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).

From a methodological perspective, our group optimized trial designs for rare tumors by adapting statistical methodologies in innovative ways, including using real world data. The challenge in this undertaking, in addition to the rarity of pediatric cancer, is the subtypes and subclasses of these tumors that may respond differently to treatment, and the potential toxicities that may impact patients differently at various stages of childhood and adulthood. In this work, as in all our other efforts, we are guided by our desire to assist in the development of clinical trials that advance treatment and cures for children.