Scholar Investigator Profiles
Rebecca Arend MD MSPH
Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Division of Gynecologic Oncology,
Associate Scientist
O’Neil Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Program Mentor
Dr. Michael Birrer
Since becoming a GOG Foundation Scholar, I have developed and secured funding for two investigator-initiated clinical trials evaluating novel treatment combinations for primary advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Additionally, I have continued the work in my translational science lab investigating improving the immune response in ovarian cancer with the hopes of expanding the role of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer clinical trials and treatment. Currently, my lab is funded through the DOD Ovarian Cancer Academy and I am in the process of writing an R01.
Highlighted Research
Improving Immune Response in Ovarian Cancer by Modulating the Wnt Pathway
Other Research Activities
Co-PI for GOG-3018, The OVAL Study: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Arm, Double-Blind, Multi-Center Study of Orangemen Badinage (VB-111) Combined with Paclitaxel vs. Paclitaxel Combined with Placebo for the Treatment of Recurrent Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer.
Co-PI for GOG-3036, A Randomized Phase 3, Double-Blind Study of Chemotherapy With or Without Pembrolizumab Followed by Maintenance With Olaparib or Placebo for the First-Line Treatment of BRCA Non-mutated Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.
2 newly funded multi-institutional IITs in Upfront treatment of Ovarian Cancer Patients undergoing NACT.
Lilian Gien MD MSc
Associate Professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center, University of Toronto
Program Mentor
Dr. Robert Coleman
This program has introduced me to the leaders in clinical trial development in gynecologic cancers and provided mentorship and opportunities to participate in both NRG Oncology and GOG Partners.
Highlighted Research
I am the PI for NRG-GY016 – Phase II study of pembrolizumab and epacadostat in recurrent clear cell carcinoma of the ovary.
Other Research Activities
Co-PI for the upcoming NRG-GY024 – GROINSSV-III – Prospective phase II treatment trial on sentinel nodes in vulvar cancer.
Study co-chair for NRG-GY019 – A Randomized Phase III, Two-Arm Trial of Paclitaxel/Carboplatin/Maintenance Letrozole Versus Letrozole Monotherapy in Patients with Stage II-IV, Primary Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary or Peritoneum
Ritu Salani MD MBA
Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of California, Los Angeles
Program Mentor
Dr. Bradley Monk
This program has allowed me to increase my network. I have had the opportunity to sit in high-level meetings with industry and GOG Partners leadership in which I have gained an understanding of development of protocols, feasibility concerns, financial insights, and identifying areas of improvement in study design.
I have also been exposed to more opportunities for funding and have received mentorship (from the Scholars program leadership) regarding furthering my personal research efforts. Lastly, it has allowed me to meet with and work with my contemporaries and junior faculty who all share the mission of improving care for people affected by gynecologic cancers.
Highlighted Research
Study Chair for a phase II, safety, and efficacy study of tiragolumab plus atezolizumab and atezolizumab monotherapy in patients with metastatic and/or recurrent PD-L1 positive cervical cancer.
Co-PI for a randomized, phase 3, double-blind study of chemoradiotherapy with or without pembrolizumab for the treatment of high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer.
PI for potential NRG Oncology study CV1922: PARP inhibitor or PD1 inhibitor with bevacizumab versus bevacizumab alone as maintenance therapy following chemotherapy in women with advanced, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer.
PI for Homologous recombination deficiency in cervical cancer.
Shannon N. Westin MD MPH
Associate Professor
Director, Early Drug Development
Dept. of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine
Division of Surgery
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Program Mentor
Dr. Robert Coleman
The Scholar Investigator Program has provided me with precious protected time necessary to focus on protocol development and research. Without this program, I would not be leading an international phase III randomized control trial that has the potential to change practice and improve outcomes for women with advanced and recurrent endometrial cancer.
Highlighted Research
GOG3041: DUO-E A Randomised, Multicentre, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase III Study of First-line Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Combination with Durvalumab, Followed by Maintenance Durvalumab with or without Olaparib in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer
Other Research Activities
PI for an arm of GY012 – randomized study of PARP inhibitor combinations in endometrial cancer.
PI for an arm of COMBOMatch – randomized study of MEK inhibition with or with PARP inhibition in RAS mutant ovarian cancer and RAS mutant endometrial cancer.
Dmitriy Zamarin MD PhD
Assistant Attending Physician
Translational Research Director
Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Program Mentor
Dr. Carol Aghajanian
Overall, even in the first year, the scholar program has tremendously helped in my forming key collaborations that have been instrumental in my continued development as an independent investigator.
Highlighted Research
Mechanisms of immune recognition and opportunities for novel immunotherapies in gynecologic cancers.
Other Research Activities
Being a GOG Foundation Scholar has promoted my career development on multiple levels. Through the scholar program, I have established collaborations with other NRG Oncology members and currently serve as an investigator on several NRG-sponsored clinical trials, including being a PI for NRG-GY003 trial, and a translational PI for the NRG-GY017 and NRG-GY020 trials. These trials have provided us with rich clinical and translational datasets that we are currently analyzing to define predictors of response to various immunotherapy combinations in ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers.
Together with another GOG scholar, Dr. Katherine Fuh, we have developed a biomarker plan for analysis of samples from the NRG-GY020 trial of adjuvant pembrolizumab in patients with newly-diagnosed high-intermediate risk mismatch repair-deficient endometrial cancer.
In collaboration with Dr. Brian Slomovitz we are developing a new concept for combination immunotherapy in endometrial cancer. I serve as a translational co-chair on the NRG Cervical Cancer Committee and as a member on the Developmental Therapeutics Committee.
Finally, I have been invited to organize the Summer 2021 GOG Symposium in cancer immunotherapy, which will provide for further opportunities for interaction with leaders in the field.