Episode 393: Designing Better Clinical Trials: Why Patient Advocates Belong at the Table

We know that clinical trials are a critical lifeline, offering new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat breast cancer. Today, patient advocates are transforming clinical trials by bringing the real-world experiences of patients directly to researchers. By acting as a bridge between science and the community, patient advocates boost enrollment in clinical trials, and help build a lasting trust Today we are speaking with Dr. Lior Braunstein, a radiation oncologist and researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Dr. Ellen Landsberger, a retired OB-GYN and patient advocate, also at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Together they are working on the ARCHER clinical trial, a study that is investigating a new treatment strategy for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. We’ll talk about what they are hoping to accomplish through the ARCHER trial, what their collaborative process looks like and how patient advocates in clinical trials can help improve patient outcomes. Key Takeaways: Patient advocates help design better clinical trials The ARCHER trial aims to improve treatment outcomes Patient voices shape research from the very beginning Clinical trials study both treatment and quality of life Better access helps more patients join clinical trials Chapters 00:00:00 – Why patient advocates belong at the clinical trial design table 00:04:44 – From breast cancer survivor to patient advocate 00:07:46 – How advocates shape research and address patient concerns 00:12:08 – Inside the ARCHER trial and its goal to improve metastatic breast cancer treatment 00:19:03 – Measuring quality of life and improving access to clinical trials 00:26:28 – How patients can become advocates and influence future research