Cancer Research And Biostatistics (CRAB) and the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University have signed a memorandum of understanding to support clinical and translational research at the Knight Cancer Institute using advanced biostatistics methods.

Through this unique collaboration, biostatisticians from CRAB, a national leader in designing, managing and analyzing therapeutic and preventive cancer clinical trials, and the Knight Cancer Institute, a pioneer in cancer precision medicine, will work side by side to support investigators through study design, analysis plan, clinical trial electronic data capture systems, data management and statistical analyses.

“Our Memorandum of Understanding with the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute builds upon an excellent existing working relationship,” said John Crowley, Ph.D., CRAB founder, world-renowned statistician and leader of the CRAB team. “I look forward to seeing the organizations collaborate together in an even more impactful way with the common goal of fighting cancer.”

Since 2011, the institutions have collaborated on a number of OHSU projects, including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Specialized Center of Research, Beat AML and SMART (Serial Measurements of ARchitecture and Theranostics) trials.

“This partnership builds on the existing trust between both organizations,” said Motomi Mori, Ph.D., OHSU Knight Cancer Institute researcher and professor of biostatistics, OHSU/Portland State University School of Public Health and OHSU School of Medicine. “Our missions are squarely aligned in the effort to make an impact on cancer, and this collaboration will increase the translational research capability of each organization.”

“I am very excited about working more closely with our colleagues at the Knight Cancer Institute,” said Antje Hoering, Ph.D., CEO of CRAB. “Oncology is a fast-moving field and this newly-formed partnership makes us a strong team as we utilize our combined expertise and talents to contribute to cutting-edge cancer research with the ultimate goal of conquering this disease.”

This collaboration is expected to build both institutes’ capacity for data management and statistical analyses for “omics” studies, precision medicine clinical trials, and early detection intervention trials.