Bob Gray Retires as Group Statistician, Therapeutics

The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) has announced that Robert J. (Bob) Gray, PhD, retired from his position as Group Statistician, Therapeutics, effective February 28, 2026. Dr. Gray is a professor of biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Dr. Gray has been a central figure in ECOG-ACRIN for more than 25 years, holding one of the most senior scientific leadership roles within the organization.  He became group statistician in 2000, succeeding Dr. David Harrington, who followed Dr. Marvin Zelen, the founding statistician of the former Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Only these three statistical leaders have held this position in the group’s history since 1955, underscoring the continuity and influence of Dr. Gray’s tenure.

Dr. Gray will continue to serve the group in a senior advisory capacity. The group is deeply grateful for Dr. Gray’s service and the lasting impact he has had across ECOG-ACRIN and the oncology research community. To learn more about his background and tremendous contributions, read the press release.

ECOG-ACRIN Appoints New Lead Statistician

Paul J. Catalano, ScD, has been appointed as ECOG-ACRIN Group Statistician, Therapeutics, effective March 1, 2026, ensuring continuity in the statistical leadership of the cancer therapy clinical trials portfolio with the retirement of Robert J. Gray (see above). Dr. Catalano earned his Doctor of Science in Biostatistics from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 1991. He is a senior lecturer in the Department of Biostatistics at the Chan School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he directs the Biostatistics Core Facility. He was appointed as associate group statistician for ECOG-ACRIN in April 2023.

Dr. Catalano and Constantine A. Gatsonis, PhD, ECOG-ACRIN Group Statistician, Imaging, hold the two most senior statistician positions in the group. Together, they co-lead the ECOG-ACRIN Biostatistics Center, providing methodological expertise and leadership that is critical to ECOG-ACRIN’s scientific rigor and international reputation.

Spring 2026 Group Meeting Registration Is Open

Registration is open for our Spring 2026 Group Meeting, taking place in person at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront from Tuesday, May 5–Thursday, May 7 (note the schedule shift away from Wednesday–Friday). Sessions begin early Tuesday morning and end early Thursday afternoon (subject to change). Visit the meeting website to view the latest schedule. As usual, the meeting is open to researchers and staff affiliated with member institutions, ECOG-ACRIN patient advocates, industry representatives, and other invited individuals. Register here.

Important note: All sessions will be conducted in person only.

ECOG-ACRIN members unable to attend in person may register for access to the open/general committee session recordings (to be posted after the meeting concludes). Registration is required to access these recordings—please select the ‘On Demand Recordings - Members Only’ registration type.

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, including CIRB and site start-up; investigational agent management; patient case management, including OPEN, RECIST, CTEP-AERS, Rave, and TRIAD; 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. A sign-up form will be circulated prior to the meeting—keep an eye on your email inbox!

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