April 10, 2025
Molly, a program director for data at The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Office, plays a crucial role in managing the information that drives medical advancements. With more than 12 years of experience, she has witnessed firsthand how data fuels progress in cancer research. In this Q&A, Molly shares her journey into clinical research, dispels common myths about clinical trials and highlights the exciting innovations shaping the future of cancer treatment.
Describe your role at the Clinical Trials Office. How does it play into the bigger picture of advancing medical research?
I am one of the program directors for data. Our data coordinators rely on my knowledge of clinical research and collaboration with other teams to improve the processes and ensure our teams have the information and resources they need to do their jobs efficiently. Data coordinators are responsible for collecting, managing and ensuring the accuracy of the data. Data is important for advancing medical research as this is what allows researchers to analyze results and draw conclusions to develop new treatments and therapies.
What inspired you to work in clinical research?
I was working part-time with The University of Kansas Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office while going through college and did not have previous research knowledge. I was able to learn so much during my 3 years as a part-time employee about the impact research has on individuals and their families. When I graduated, I knew this was an industry I wanted to explore more. I stayed with the Clinical Trials Office and worked on many different aspects of research but I always felt data was the most interesting. I have now been full-time with the Clinical Trials Office for more than12 years.
The obvious motivator is the impact this has on participants and their families. Every story may not be a success story but knowing the selflessness some of the participants have for furthering research and wanting more for the future is amazing. Being with the Clinical Trials Office for over 12 years, I have seen clinical trials move from phase 1 to later phase. It is a great feeling knowing the work you put in helped that clinical trial move forward. I have also been able to see a change in the different types of clinical trials we are able to offer. It is a great motivator seeing where things once were and how much they’ve been able to improve because of your contribution to research.
What’s one aspect of clinical trials that most people don’t realize or understand?
Most people don’t understand the amount of precautions that are put in place to ensure the participants are safe. There is a lot of testing that is done prior to the trial being introduced to participants. Once the trial is ready for participants, there are phases the trial will go through, each focusing on different aspects. There are also review committees that ensure the protocol is safe, as well as committees that review the data during the trial to ensure safety. A clinical trial can be discontinued if there is data showing the trial is unsafe.
If you could bust one myth about cancer clinical trials, what would it be?
One myth I hear is that cancer clinical trials are only for participants who don’t have any other option. Protocols have requirements that participants have to meet to be on the trial. There are trials that require participants who have received a certain number of prior treatments but there are also trials for participants that have not received any prior treatments. Some trials even use molecular testing to determine the best options for participants. There are also trials focused on cancer prevention and screening for those who do not have cancer.
What excites you about the future of cancer clinical research?
One of the exciting things about the future of cancer clinical research is how personalized some of the research is becoming. There are a lot of treatments being tailored based on participants’ genetic profile. We are also seeing more trials using CAR T-Cell therapy, which uses the participant’s own immune cells to fight cancer.