Our Proud Past, Hope for Our Bright Future

These last few weeks, I’ve worked every day on our National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) operations grant application, and even as group chair, I am overwhelmed by what we’ve accomplished together. And what will we accomplish over the next cycle. My email box is stuffed with information from SWOG senior leaders, who have been submitting progress reports and vision statements and plans. We’ve launched significant new trials, taken smart scientific risks, improved operations, bolstered patient engagement, expanded our outreach to members and the public, and significantly enhanced our collaboration with the other network groups and the NCI itself.

Today, we can say that we’ve helped get 14 new cancer drugs approved, changed standards of care over 100 times, and saved more than 3 million years of human life through our cancer clinical trials. We have 12,000 members worldwide at over 1,000 sites. We’ve developed more than 1,400 studies, produced over 4,000 publications, and amassed a biorepository of over 800,000 samples available to the entire global cancer research community.

Looking ahead, we will delve deeper into immuno- and cellular therapies, create and test new digital tools for our trials, and launch some new committees-in-development. I can say, with confidence, that we have particular strengths, outside of science, in patient advocacy, digital communication, and mentoring junior investigators.

And I want to take this Thanksgiving and give thanks. To you. SWOG members and staff built this group, and we will be the ones who continue to expand it in the years and decades to come. Our network is our strength. Our commitment to each other and to progress for our patients is what makes us special and, this holiday season, makes me grateful for your help in achieving our mission.