MD Anderson Cancer Center Jobs

This program aims to collaborate on research projects designed to produce a well-trained investigator for future academic and research careers. This program combines the ability to lead research projects with the development of essential competencies in gynecological oncology evidence and its application within a leading cancer center.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Our program focuses on two interconnected areas of interest: 1) Advancing surgical trials and implementing safer approaches for surgical care in oncology, and 2) Enhancing access to genetic testing for familial hereditary cancers. Trainees in this position will actively contribute to the maintenance and expansion of clinical trials within the Gynecologic Oncology Department, including projects like the LANCE and IGNITE trials. Through hands-on participation, trainees will gain valuable experience in trial management, patient recruitment, data analysis, and the application of findings to clinical practice. Furthermore, trainees will have the opportunity to work with extensive databases, offering a unique chance to enhance their epidemiology and statistics skills.

LANCE trial

"LANCE: Laparoscopic Cytoreduction After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy" is a multicenter, randomized, international trial in women with ovarian cancer undergoing interval debulking surgery. The overall goal of the LANCE trial is to evaluate the safety of minimally invasive interval cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We hypothesize that patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy will benefit, in terms of reduced postoperative complications and improved cancer treatment outcomes, from the use of minimally invasive interval debulking surgery. The primary objective is to assess disease-free survival, defined as the time interval between randomization and physical or radiographic evidence of recurrence (local/distant) or death (all causes), whichever occurs first. We will also evaluate overall survival; health-related quality of life metrics; rates of optimal surgery (no residual disease or tumors

The LANCE trial is open to women with stage IIIC and IV high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer who have undergone three or four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and are deemed suitable candidates for minimally invasive interval cytoreductive surgery based on imaging, with complete radiologic resolution of any disease outside the abdominal cavity. We are selecting patients who have had a significant response to chemotherapy and are therefore better candidates for minimally invasive surgery. Patients are randomized to either interval cytoreductive surgery through a minimally invasive approach (experimental arm) or open surgery (control arm). The LANCE trial has been actively accruing patients since 2020. The first 100 participants were enrolled in an initial phase to determine feasibility. The study was internally reviewed and approved to continue enrollment. The trial will continue enrolling with plans to enroll 580 participants.

IGNITE study

"IGNITE-TX: Identifying Individuals for Genetic Testing & Treatment." This randomized trial explores a community-based intervention's feasibility, to increase genetic testing for family members of those diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome or Hereditary Breast Ovarian Cancer (HBOC), known as cascade genetic testing. National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend that at-risk relatives of an individual with Lynch Syndrome or HBOC undergo genetic counseling and consider cascade genetic testing. However, fewer than 50% of relatives undergo cascade genetic testing. The IGNITE-TX study aims to support individuals and their families as they navigate the process of sharing information within the family about Lynch syndrome/HBOC, and to support relatives in their access to cascade genetic testing.

Additionally, during this stage, the fellow will learn the full scope of practice of gynecologic oncology in a major tertiary cancer center. It will include direct exposure to patients with gynecologic cancers in the outpatient setting as well as visits to the operating room where will be seen a wide breadth of surgical procedures ranging from radical abdominal cytoreduction, complex minimally invasive surgery, and novel surgical approaches. The fellow will also be exposed to the departmental Multidisciplinary Conferences and other educational events.

Clinical research implementation skills:

Database development and maintenance.

Regulatory and institutional.

Data extraction from clinical, imaging, and pathology notes.

Interaction with patients to obtain informed consent and update medical information.

Data analysis and reporting.

Protocol writing.

Manuscript and abstract preparation and submission.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Medical Degree

English proficiency

Spanish proficiency

REDCap experience

POSITION INFORMATION

MD Anderson follows the NIH stipend levels as outlined by the Kirchstein - NRSA (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-23-076.html) . This full-time trainee position will provide a salary between $56,484 to $68,604, dependent upon the years of postgraduate experience.

MD Anderson offers compensated trainees:

• Paid medical benefits (zero premium) starting on first day for trainees who work 30 or more hours per week

• Group Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and Disability coverage

• Paid Education Vacation and Sick Leave

• Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave and other paid leave programs

• Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans

• Employer paid life, AD&D and an illness-related reduced salary pay program

• Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement flexible spending accounts

• Fertility benefits

• State of Texas longevity pay

• Extensive wellness, fitness, employee health programs and employee resource groups

FACULTY MENTOR

Jose Rauh-Hain