Summary
Leaders in the healthcare sector face unprecedented challenges as they navigate complex decisions impacting patient care and clinical trials. Dr. Diane Simeone, director of the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, emphasizes the need for collaboration among cancer centers, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory bodies to streamline clinical trial processes. With the goal of reducing the time it takes to activate trials to 60 days, Dr. Simeone advocates for a national strategy that addresses the bottlenecks currently hindering progress in cancer research.
Dr. Simeone highlights the significant advancements in drug design and genomics, yet notes that clinical trial execution has not kept pace. She points out that many trials are moving overseas due to quicker and less expensive processes, which poses a challenge for the U.S. to maintain its leadership in innovation. The focus of her work with the Association of American Cancer Institutes and the National Cancer Institute is to improve trial design and execution, making them more efficient and accessible, particularly in rural communities.
Reflecting on her career, Dr. Simeone encourages healthcare leaders to embrace opportunities that address unmet needs and to be open to innovative problem-solving approaches. She believes that by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and reassessing ineffective strategies, leaders can significantly impact patient outcomes, particularly in the realm of clinical trials for challenging diseases like pancreatic cancer.
Show Notes
In this episode, Diane M. Simeone, MD, Director, Moores Cancer Center, Koman Family Presidential Director’s Chair, UC San Diego Health, discusses streamlining clinical trials, using AI to accelerate trial activation, and expanding access to innovative cancer treatments.
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