The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) Cancer Research Group recently announced that it has appointed Joseph A. Sparano, MD, as its Vice Chair. In his new role, Dr. Sparano will assist the Group leadership in defining research priorities and implementing its broad research portfolio, which includes programs in cancer control and outcomes, therapeutic studies, and biomarker sciences.
Dr. Sparano is Professor of Medicine and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Associate Chairman of the Department of Oncology at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is also Associate Director for Clinical Research at the Einstein Cancer Center and leads the Einstein Breast Cancer Working Group, a multidisciplinary group of physicians and scientists focused on translational breast cancer research. In addition, he serves as Vice Chair of the National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Correlative Science Committee and Vice Chair of the AIDS Malignancy Consortium.
Research Focus
A medical oncologist whose research focuses on developmental therapeutic approaches in breast cancer, lymphoma, and HIV-associated cancers and the clinical application of genomic profiling in cancer management, Dr. Sparano first joined ECOG in 1991 as a member of the Biological Response Modifier Committee and Breast Committee. He has held the position of Co-Chair or Chair of the ECOG Breast Committee since 2002 and Associate Chair for Disease and Modality Research since 2001.
He has also chaired or co-chaired 16 therapeutic clinical trials for the Group, including the historic Trial Assigning IndividuaLized Options for Treatment (Rx)—or TAILORx—an ongoing study in women with early-stage breast cancer. ■
