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SNO Clinical Trials Course
November 20, 2019
JW Marriott Hotel Desert Ridge
Phoenix, Arizona

SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS NOW PASSED

Course Directors
Vinay Puduvalli
Stephen Bagley
Susan Chang
Mustafa Khasraw
Patrick Wen

About the SNO Clinical Trials Course
The Society for Neuro-Oncology is pleased to announce a new one-day course for fellows and junior faculty within five years from first appointment that will address the essentials of effective clinical trial design in the treatment of CNS malignancies.  Participation in the course is through a competitive application process, and is open to clinical fellow and junior faculty clinical researchers from all neuro-oncology subspecialties.  SNO membership (Full or Trainee Level) is required.

The course will be held at the JW Marriott Dessert Ridge Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 (immediately preceding the SNO annual meeting). 

Confirmed clinical faculty to date:  Karla Ballman, PhD (Weill Cornell Medicine), Howard Colman, MD, PhD (University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Center), Mark Gilbert, MD (NCI/NIH), Minesh Mehta, MD (Miami Cancer Institute), Annette Molinaro, PhD (University of California, San Francisco), Steven Piantadosi, MD, PhD (Brigham and Women's Hospital), Stephanie Pugh, PhD (American College of Radiology), Denise Scholtens, PhD (Northwestern University), Roger Stupp, MD (Northwestern University), Martin van den Bent, MD (Erasmum MC Cancer Institute), Ying Yuan, PhD  (MD Anderson Cancer Center)


Educational Goals
Upon completion of this course, participants will have an improved understanding of the practical aspects of therapeutic CNS trials, including:

  • Understanding the fundamentals of good trial design
  • Understanding the scientific, statistical, logistical and ethical aspects of CNS trials,
  • Integrating biomarkers in CNS trials,
  • Mitigating challenges to accrual and overcoming accrual barriers, and
  • Anticipating the future direction of CNS trials.


Application Procedure (no longer accepting applications)
The online application procedure requires the following items to be receive in the SNO administrative office by the application deadline of Friday, May 10, 2019:

  • A completed pdf application (click here for application )
  • Statement of interest explaining why you wish to participate in this course, to include your previous clinical trial exposure or experience (entered on application form above)
  • Your personal CV (electronic version)
  • Letter of support from your Program Supervisor or Department Head submitted separately
  • Submit documents to Linda Greer, [email protected]

Selection of Participants
The Course Directors will review and select up to 36 participants for the course. The faculty will base their decisions in large part on the statement of interest and the recommendation letter from the Program Supervisor or Department Head. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to submit applications.

Those selected for the course will be required to pay a registration fee of $125 to cover meals and to book their own travel to Phoenix. Limited financial support may be available to candidates with a strong application who do not have funds for travel. Non-local participants are expected to arrive on the evening of Tuesday, November 19, 2019, as the course will start promptly at 7:30am on Wednesday morning.  Accommodation information will be posted to the SNO website in due course. 


Participant Expectations
Participants selected for the course will be required to submit a trial concept outline prior to the course.  All concept outlines will be reviewed by assigned SNO mentors and feedback will be provided to each participant.  Some of the submitted concept outlines may be selected for further discussion at the course.  Participants will be asked to complete a post-course evaluation and follow-up interview to determine the practical benefit of the course. 


Selection Timeline
  • Applications due: Friday, May 10, 2019
  • Notifications of acceptance: Monday, June 3, 2019
  • Concept outlines due: Monday, July 1, 2019
  • SNO Clinical Trials Course: Wednesday, November 20, 2019