May 13 2025
Recently, NRG Oncology (NRG) reorganized and refocused its committee structure to better engage our early career researchers and provide greater support to investigators at all career stages. This initiative led to the creation of the Investigator & Career Development Committee which houses the Early Career Mentorship Subcommittee and the Investigator Development Subcommittee. These groups will expand upon the goals and efforts of the former Early Career and New Investigators Committee and Access and Opportunity Committees.
The Investigator & Career Development (ICD) Committee’s purpose is to foster professional development for NRG investigators through mentorship, education, networking, and expanding opportunities for growth – both within NRG and in the broader field of clinical research. In addition to overseeing educational initiatives, this committee will collect and analyze metrics to monitor investigator engagement and progress throughout their tenure within NRG. The ICD Committee is led by Chair, Vinai Gondi, MD, and Vice-Chairs, Angeles Secord, MD, and Priya Rastogi, MD.
The Early Career Mentorship Subcommittee is under the ICD Committee, with a focus on creating educational and mentorship opportunities for the early career investigator membership within NRG. This subcommittee is dedicated to involving early career researchers in the protocol development process at NRG, providing structured mentorship through its liaison program, and creating educational opportunities at a disease site committee level within NRG. Outside of traditional protocol development, investigator members in this subcommittee will also gain exposure to other areas of clinical research such as translational science and ancillary projects that expand on NRG’s clinical trial research portfolio. These hands-on experiences will provide researchers with the necessary skills and expertise required to grow professionally and build connections with peers and senior investigators in their field. This Committee is also led by Chair, Vinai Gondi, MD, and Vice-Chairs, Angeles Secord, MD, and Priya Rastogi, MD.
The Investigator Development Subcommittee focuses on enhancing engagement and expanding opportunities for investigators at all career levels. The priority of this subcommittee is identifying barriers to investigator participation in NRG trials and developing strategies to increase investigator involvement. This subcommittee will create opportunities for individuals to apply for leadership positions within the organization, participate in research collaborations, and work closely with the protocol development team to better understand NRG’s clinical trial lifecycle. It also aims to create guidance and resources to help grow the investigator network within NRG and provide feedback to NRG leadership on ways to improve access and participation for our investigators. This Committee is led by Chair, Katherine Moxley, MD, and Vice-Chairs, Eleanor Walker, MD, and Kathryn Hitchcock, MD.