Education
Resident Review Workshop
Thursday, September 24 – 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Dr. Kristen Weishaar
Optimizing for Success: Elements of Clinical Trial Design
Time: 8:00 am – 9:45 am
Synopsis: Thoughtful design of a clinical trial is critical to ensure that data are collected and analyzed in a manner that allows for the questions the study is asking to be answered. Decisions must be made about a variety of aspects of a trial before enrollment begins, and choices made can have a significant impact on the validity and applicability of study results. Consideration must be given to specific study methods such as the patient population to be included, study endpoints and how they will be assessed, and the statistical plan to analyze the data once acquired. There are also unique challenges associated with the conduct of clinical trials in veterinary medicine that must be considered.
About the Presenter: Dr. Weishaar is a veterinary medical oncologist at the Colorado State University Flint Animal Cancer Center and is the Director of the Oncology Clinical Trials service. In this position, she oversees the clinical operations of the trials service and assists investigators in the development and execution of clinical research studies.
Dr. Jacob Cawley
Biology of Metastasis
Time: 10:15 am – 12:00 pm
Synopsis: Metastasis is responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths in veterinary patients, yet it remains one of the most complex and least understood aspects of cancer biology. This resident workshop will provide an overview of the biological mechanisms that enable tumor cells to disseminate from the primary tumor, survive during transit, and colonize distant organs. Particular emphasis will be placed on emerging concepts in metastasis biology, including tumor cell plasticity, metastatic dormancy, tumor–microenvironment interactions, and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Through integration of foundational biology and clinically relevant examples, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the metastatic process and its implications for prognosis and treatment. This session is designed to provide trainees with a contemporary framework for understanding metastasis and to stimulate discussion about future directions in the field.
About the Presenter: Jacob is board-certified in medical oncology. As a part of Ethos Discovery, Jacob helped design, launch, and manage the Ethos PUSH clinical trial. He is currently studying mechanisms of functional heterogeneity in hemangiosarcoma to predict novel biomarkers and therapeutics.