Studying Rare Cancers: Current Methodologies and Future Opportunities With Dr. Amy O’Sullivan, Dr. Nicholas Robert, Dr. Zhaohui Su, Dr. Matthew Hadfield, and Dr. Waqas Haque
Expert Perspectives · Keira Smith · 2024-10-02
In this interview, Oncology Data Advisor board members Dr. Matthew Hadfield and Dr. Waqas Haque speak with Dr. Amy O’Sullivan, Dr. Nicholas Robert, and Dr. Zhaohui Su from Ontada, an oncology data science and technology business dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients through real-world data and evidence generation that accelerates life sciences research. They share insights into the challenges, methodologies, and opportunities surrounding the study of rare cancer populations, including:
- Background about rare cancers, which are defined as having an incidence of less than 6 per 100,000
- Why it’s important to study rare cancers
- Challenges involved in studying rare cancer populations
- Methodologies that are currently used and opportunities for changes
- The paradigm shift from viewing cancer as a singular disease to instead as a complex tapestry of rare biomarker-defined subtypes
- Implications of precision medicine in oncology, specifically in rare cancers
- Statistical considerations involved in studying rare cancers
- What each of them are most excited to see in the coming years regarding how rare cancers are studied
- And more!
About the Speakers
Amy O’Sullivan, PhD, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Research Officer at Ontada. She leads the teams responsible for delivery of real-world research, real-world data products and analytics, and physician engagement and education. Dr O’Sullivan has more than 25 years of experience in conducting health economics and outcomes research. She has authored studies in several clinical and health economics peer-reviewed journals, and she has presented her work at conferences around the world.
Nicholas Robert, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer at Ontada. He is responsible for deepening Ontada’s clinical focus and ensuring that their studies, real-world data offerings, and educational programs maintain scientific standards and clinical relevance. Dr. Robert spent much of his career as a practicing oncologist and is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Anatomic Pathology, Medical Oncology, and Hematology.
Zhaohui Su, PhD, is the Vice President of Biostatistics at Ontada. He has 25 years of experience in applying statistical, epidemiological, and machine learning methods to real-world studies. Dr. Su’s research focuses on oncology study design, predictive models, and regression analysis for categorical, continuous, and survival data. At Ontada, he leads the team responsible for performing disease management, comparative effectiveness, pharmacoeconomics, and health outcomes research.
Matthew Hadfield, DO, is a Medical Oncologist at Brown University/Legorreta Cancer Center, with a pending faculty appointment at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University. Dr. Hadfield’s clinical and research interests are in phase 1 clinical trials and developmental therapeutics, as well as cutaneous malignancies and immunotherapy-related adverse events. He recently completed his Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Brown University.
Waqas Haque, MD, MPH, is a Hematology/Oncology Fellow at the University of Chicago. He recently completed his Internal Medicine Residency at New York University (NYU) in a Clinical Investigator Track. Dr. Haque has balanced his patient care work with a variety of research projects. During his fellowship training at the University of Chicago, he plans to further his work in innovative clinical trial design, value-based care delivery to cancer patients, and clinical investigation.