Strategic Research Initiative Development (STRIDE)
MD Anderson has a commitment to rapidly addressing emerging gaps in our ability to translate science into clinical impact. The Strategic Research Initiative Development (STRIDE) program partners with faculty and staff to identify tumor-type agnostic, multi-specialty projects to enable research and, ultimately, patient care.
Reflecting the institution¡¯s commitment to empowering innovative teams, STRIDE provides a integrated and evolving support structure to ensure the success and sustainability of these programs.
STRIDE Leadership
Professor and Chair, Genomic Medicine
Vice President, Strategic Translational Research Programs
Elizabeth Burton, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Executive Director, Strategic Translational Research Initiative Development
STRIDE Programs
Rare Tumor Initiative
Launched in 2019, the Rare Tumor Initiative (RTI) aims to characterize rare tumors over the course of a patient¡¯s treatment. From 2019 through 2021, in partnership with numerous clinical colleagues, the RTI collected and analyzed biospecimens from more than 1000 patients across 140 rare cancers, generating deep molecular and pathological data. This effort set out to provide researchers interested in rare cancers with a rich data source that can be used to drive discoveries such as the identification of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets, and the development of novel clinical trials.
The institution's commitment to rare cancers continues in the context of the Patient Mosaic? program.
The Andrew McDougall Brain Metastasis Clinic and Research Program
Professor, Neurosurgery
Co-Director
Professor, Radiation Oncology
Co-Director
Professor, Melanoma Medical Oncology
Co-Director
The Andrew McDougall Brain Metastasis Clinic and Research Program is a world-class, interdisciplinary brain metastasis clinic that will enable novel clinical and translational research and support the establishment of a new standard-of-care for patients with brain metastases.
Pre-Cancer Atlas
Chair ad interim, Clinical Cancer Prevention
Lead
The Pre-Cancer Atlas seeks to identify actionable targets for immune interception of pre-cancers and to accelerate the identification and development of biomarkers for risk stratification.
Tumor Measurement Initiative
Vice President and Chief Data Officer
Co-lead
Professor, Thoracic Imaging
Co-Lead
The Tumor Measurement Initiative (TMI) builds an institutional framework that supports standardized, automated, quantitative, imaging-based tumor measurements across each patient¡¯s care journey to advance multidisciplinary, data-driven, high precision cancer treatment. The fundamental goal of the TMI is to have the ability to measure all tumors for all patients, at all times.
Program for T Cell Therapy
Professor, Melanoma Medical Oncology
Lead
The Program for T Cell Therapy (ProTCT) delivers novel T cell-based treatment modalities for advanced cancers, investigates T cell based-responses, builds a framework that enables discovery across multiple disciplines.
Immunotherapy Toxicity Operational Platform
Associate Professor, Melanoma Medical Oncology
Co-Lead
Associate Professor, Cardiology
Co-Lead
Associate Professor, Dermatology
Co-Lead
The Immunotherapy Toxicity Operational Platform (ITOP) optimizes immuno-oncology toxicity (IOTOX) prevention, diagnosis and treatment by integrating resources, such as data and tissue collection and subspecialty clinical expertise across the institution to maximize research and discovery opportunities.
Neuro Health Initiative
Professor, Neuro-Oncology
Co-Lead
Jim Ray, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Co-Lead
The Neuro Health Initiative (NHI) aims to improve cancer patient outcomes and quality of life by advancing the detection, prevention and treatment of treatment-related neurotoxicities through systematic assessments, predictive biomarkers and evidence-based standards of care, ultimately establishing a sustainable center for neural health and neuroprotection.
Spatial Ecology & Quantitative Pathology Image Analytical Platform
Professor, Translational Molecular Pathology
Lead
The Spatial Ecology & Quantitative Pathology Image Analytical Platform (SEQUOIA) is revolutionizing the conventional pathology workflow by implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into digital pathology research and clinical space, utilizing computational pathology, spatial-omics and multi-modality data integration approaches to efficiently streamline routine pathological practice, provide greater depth and insights into ongoing oncology research and generate new cross-institutional research opportunities.