Clinical Research
Advancing the standard of care through clinical trials.
The Clinical Trials Office aims to conduct and uphold the highest clinical and translational research standards while enhancing the lives of those at risk for and affected by cancer.
clinical trials
patients enrolled on a clinical trial
interventional, observational, and behavioral trial enrollments
UVM Cancer Center Clinical Trial Aims to Bring Precision Medicine to Colorectal Cancer Treatment
CIRCULATE clinical trial
The current standard of care for treating colorectal cancer, the fifth most common cancer in the U.S. and the third most common cause of cancer death, is at best an inexact science. For patients with early — Stage 1 or Stage 2 — colorectal cancer, current recommendations call for the tumor to be removed with surgery. For Stage 3 patients, whose cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but has not metastasized further, surgically removing the tumor and cancerous lymph nodes followed by chemotherapy is recommended. Patients with metastatic Stage 4 cancer are treated principally with chemotherapy. A clinical trial underway at the UVM Cancer Center is evaluating the reliability of a new blood test that could bring much needed precision to these treatment guidelines.
New Drug Gives Quality-of-Life Boost to Cancer Patients with Deadly Blood Clots.
In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Chris Holmes, MD, PhD, associate professor of hematology/oncology demonstrated conclusively that an orally administered pill — a DOAC, or direct oral anticoagulant — was as effective in preventing the recurrence of blood clots as injected heparin and did not increase the risk of bleeding.
Clinical Research Professionals
Constitute a network of dedicated professionals essential to operationalizing clinical and translational research.
Expanded Team
This year the clinical trials team expanded to support operational, financial, clinical, research, as well as regulatory, compliance, and data integrity standards.
Growing Portfolio
Renewed focus on the tumor microenvironment, genetics and epigenetics, health equity in the catchment area, and expanding discoveries to Network sites.
Refined Processes
Clinical trials staff are working proactively to improve every aspect of clinical trial management from study activation to trial closure with the aim of supporting our investigators and patients, and ensure best practices are followed.
Co-Leader Steven Ades, MD
Professor Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine
Research interests: Bladder, colon, prostate, liver, pancreatic, esophageal, and stomach cancers; coagulation and thrombosis/hemostasis; survivorship and supportive care.
Co-Leader Christa Varnadoe, DNP, MSN, AGNP-C, OCN, CCRP
Associate Professor Department of Medicine
Administrative Director, Clinical Trials Office
New Clinical Members
Sarah Spinette, PhD
Clinical Genetic Counselor University of Vermont Medical Center
Scot Remick, MD
Chief of Oncology MaineHealth Cancer Center Network
Elizabeth Jacobs, MD
Vice President for Research MaineHealth
Leslie Bradford, MD
Assistant Professor Tufts School of Medicine
Aqeel Gillani, MD
Medical Director C. R. Wood Cancer Center
Beth Zigmund, MD
Lung Screening Director UVM Medical Center