ASCO extends its thanks and appreciation to Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASCO, for his decade of leadership and dedication as the inaugural Principal Investigator of the groundbreaking Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study.
Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASCO
The ASCO-sponsored TAPUR study is a first-of-its-kind, nonrandomized, open-label clinical trial that takes full advantage of modern research methods to address gaps in practical knowledge by adopting a tumor-agnostic approach to match real-world patients to drugs based on their tumor's genomic profile. Under Dr. Schilsky’s leadership, the TAPUR Study has efficiently enrolled nearly 3,000 patients with advanced cancer and generated results that have been cited in more than 750 scientific publications.
“We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Schilsky for his visionary creation and leadership of the TAPUR Study,” said ASCO Chief Executive Officer Clifford Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO. “His guidance has been instrumental in establishing TAPUR as a landmark study in precision medicine and practical clinical trial design. This trial, born from his foresight, has fundamentally changed how we learn from every patient and has become a global model for advancing precision medicine.”
Key TAPUR successes under Dr. Schilsky’s direction include:
- Studying 25 different targeted anticancer agents to learn how they perform outside of their U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved indications;
- Contributing impactful data that have been incorporated into multiple clinical guidelines;
- Inspiring the development of similar precision medicine studies in Canada, Europe, and Asia.
“It has been an honor to lead the TAPUR Study from its inception and witness its profound impact on the practice of precision oncology. TAPUR has achieved all of its original objectives and more,” said Dr. Schilsky, who will transition into a new role as Founding Principal Investigator of TAPUR. “Through the study, ASCO has provided treatment options to thousands of patients who lacked effective standard [therapies]. Many patients have benefited, some continuing on study treatments for years. We have also demonstrated that a community-based, pragmatic clinical trial can generate clinically useful information suitable for publication and inclusion in clinical practice guidelines, and, through the TAPUR molecular tumor board, we have provided educational opportunities for clinicians on the interpretation of complex genomic profiling tests results.”
In addition to his work at TAPUR, Dr. Schilsky is former Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of ASCO. He has served ASCO in many volunteer roles, including as President from 2008–2009. He also is Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago.
“Dr. Schilsky has been a mentor to many, a guiding force, and a true innovator for decades,” Dr. Hudis said. “His legacy is one of relentless dedication to patients and research, and we are thrilled that his expertise will continue to guide the study’s strategic vision in his new role.”
“We have built CENTRA (Center for Research and Analytics) within ASCO with expertise in clinical trial design and execution and a network of more than 250 clinical trial sites across the country,” Dr. Schilsky said. “I am enormously proud of all that we have accomplished with TAPUR and excited about the future of the study.”
Scientific Principal Investigator Applications Now Open
ASCO is officially accepting applications for an experienced leader to serve as the next Scientific Principal Investigator for the TAPUR Study. The volunteer position is a unique opportunity for a mid-to-senior level expert in academic medicine to shape the future of precision oncology research.
The ideal candidate will be a recognized leader in academic medicine with a proven track record in advancing precision medicine. This is a well-supported, high-impact, volunteer role for someone passionate about driving innovation in cancer treatment through collaborative research.
Key qualifications include:
- Demonstrated leadership of multicenter anticancer treatment clinical trials, ideally involving both academic and community sites;
- Deep expertise in precision medicine and its application to oncology research;
- Experience collaborating with peers and pharmaceutical industry partners to advance clinical trial goals;
- Proven success in managing research personnel and multidisciplinary teams;
- Ability to commit up to 25% full-time equivalent; a stipend will be provided commensurate with effort.
To apply, visit asco.org/TAPUR-PI. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2025.
