Becker's Health IT Features Mitch Schnall

ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) Co-Chair Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, has been named one of Becker’s 58 Hospital and Health System Chief Digital Officers to Know in 2026. As Senior Vice President for Data and Technology Solutions at Penn Medicine, Dr. Schnall is helping guide health systems into a new era of data-driven care. He oversees the Chief Information Officer, Chief Medical Information Officer, and Chief Analytics Officer offices, focusing on better provider experiences, improved patient outcomes, and greater operational efficiency.

Previously, as Chair of Radiology at the Perelman School of Medicine, he doubled the department’s size and research funding, launched the nation’s top-ranked radiology residency, and built the “One Penn Medicine Radiology” framework. Dr. Schnall’s unique blend of clinical expertise, research leadership, and technological vision continues to advance innovation in cancer research and healthcare. Read the article.

Robert Winn to Lead Fox Chase Cancer Center

Robert A. Winn, MD, is transitioning to Temple Health’s Fox Chase Cancer Center to become cancer center director, effective later this summer. A nationally recognized cancer center director and physician-scientist, Dr. Winn is known for building high-performing research enterprises and advancing innovation in cancer care. He currently serves as director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and holds the Lipman Chair in Oncology. Read the Temple Health press release and this article in The Cancer Letter.

Ross Levine Elected to AACR Board of Directors

Ross L. Levine, MD, is newly elected to the American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) Board of Directors. Dr. Levine is chief scientific officer of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he also holds the Edward P. Evans Endowed Chair for Myelodysplastic Syndromes. In addition, he is a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. At ECOG-ACRIN, Dr. Levine is a co-principal investigator and the project leader for the Leukemia Integrated Translational Science Center. He also leads the Clonal Hematopoiesis Subcommittee, part of the Developmental Therapeutics Committee. Learn more.

Remembering Rita Axelrod

Rita S. Axelrod, MD, a medical oncologist and researcher specializing in thoracic and head and neck malignancies, passed away on March 20, 2026. Known for her expertise in combined modality therapy and supportive care, Dr. Axelrod met the challenges of her patients’ diagnoses with rigor and compassion. Most recently, she was professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where she was central to the growth and success of its oncology training programs. She previously served as co-director of the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program and as director of the Medical Oncology Fellowship Program. She was a member of ECOG-ACRIN for three decades, serving on the Head and Neck Cancer Committee. She led the Rare Tumor Task Force for the National Cancer Institute. Read the full obituary.

Andrew Evens Discusses Real-world Data in Lymphoma Research

This month, Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSC, co-chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Lymphoma Committee, discusses how collaboration among academic networks, registries, and industry partners is advancing more inclusive, data-driven approaches to lymphoma care and trial design. He explains that, while randomized phase 3 trials are the gold standard in lymphoma research, they often miss the patients who need treatment most. He describes how integrating real-world data (RWD) into traditional trials is enhancing study design to better address patients’ needs. Dr. Evens is also the chair of the scientific advisory board for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Read the Q&A in Clinical Leader.

ECOG-ACRIN Set to Deliver Multiple Presentations at ASCO 2026

Researchers affiliated with ECOG-ACRIN are set to unveil new findings from a diverse portfolio of clinical trials and translational research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, taking place May 29-June 2, 2026, in Chicago and online. Among the clinical trial presentations will be updated results from the STAMP trial (EA6174), along with primary results from the EAF151 glioblastoma study and EA5142 lung study, which is part of the ALCHEMIST trial program. Translational research abstracts will demonstrate emerging approaches in precision oncology and artificial intelligence, derived from multiple trial datasets, including TAILORx, NCI-MATCH, CHAARTED (E3805), PROSPER (EA8143), and E1697. Look for the Guide to ASCO 2026, coming in the May newsletter.

Reminder: Register for the Spring 2026 Group Meeting

There is still time to register for the ECOG-ACRIN Spring 2026 Group Meeting, taking place from Tuesday, May 5–Thursday, May 7, in Baltimore. View the schedule on the Group Meeting website and register for three days of engaging sessions highlighting the latest in basic, clinical, and translational research.

Featured Sessions
Group leaders encourage attendees to take part in the following sessions (all times below are Eastern Time):

Tuesday, May 5

• Robert L. Comis, MD Translational Science Symposium | 12:00–2:00 PM
• Social Determinants of Health Working Group | 5:00–6:00 PM
• ComboMATCH and MyeloMATCH Update and Education Session | 6:30–7:30 PM
• Reception | 7:30–9:30 PM

Wednesday, May 6

• General Session | 9:00–11:00 AM
• TMIST Update and Education Session | 1:00–2:00 PM
• Task Force on Career Advancement | 6:30–7:30 PM
• Task Force on Career Advancement Networking Hour | 7:30–8:30 PM

Thursday, May 7

• Training Workshop for Clinical Research Professionals | 8:00–12:00 PM

Spring Meeting to Feature Training Opportunities for Clinical Research Professionals

At the upcoming Group Meeting in Baltimore, ECOG-ACRIN is holding several training opportunities for non-investigator clinical research professionals. A non-investigator is someone who participates in research studies but does not have direct overall responsibility for their conduct. These resources are designed for clinical research associates/coordinators, research nurses, and data managers. See below for details and be sure to take advantage of these opportunities! Register for the meeting first, then select the sessions you plan to attend. Note that some offerings require an extra sign-up step.

• Clinical Research Professionals Track
  ECOG-ACRIN offers a curated list of recommended sessions for non-investigator clinical research professionals. Be sure to select the Clinical Research Professionals Track Session Bundle during registration!
• Training Workshop for Clinical Research Professionals
  This session will take place on Thursday, May 7, from 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. The workshop is geared toward clinical research professionals new to the clinical trial process. Experienced personnel who would like to refresh their knowledge are also welcome. Planned topics include: an overview of available online resources; registration and roster maintenance; regulatory basics; patient case management, including OPEN, RECIST, Rave, and EASEE-PRO; and site auditing and monitoring.
• Training Lab
  A computer lab will be available Tuesday and Wednesday for site personnel to view and explore various educational and reference materials, including the Training Reference Library of videos hosted on YouTube. An extensive list of videos, courses, and tip sheets will be available, and volunteers from ECOG-ACRIN’s audit team and/or data management team will be present to answer questions. Sign up to reserve a time.
• RECIST Workshop
  A small-group RECIST workshop will be offered, featuring sample cases and hands-on practice with calculations. The workshop will be held at two different times: Tuesday from 4:30–5:30 PM and Wednesday from 1:00–2:00 PM. Each session is limited to 20 participants, so be sure to register in advance.

Questions about any of the opportunities above? Send an email to the ECOG-ACRIN training team.