New FDA-approved Drug Yescarta available at Stanford for Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

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Last night’s broadcast on KTVU featured an interview with Dr. Miklos about a new immunotherapy drug, Yescarta. KGO TV also interviewed Dr. Miklos and Dr. Mackall as well as two patients who contributed moving stories about their experience with Yescarta. The KTVU segment can be viewed below.

Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, and is the second gene therapy approved by the FDA and the first for certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). More information can be found on the FDA’s press release.

For the next year Stanford will be the only cancer center providing Yescarta in northern California, and one of only three treatment centers on the west coast (the others are Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle WA; and City of Hope, Duarte, CA). Many thanks to the Cancer Cell Therapy team and Dr. Miklos for their work on the Kite Pharma trials studying this drug.

SCI Donation Drive For Those Affected by Fires

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Stanford Cancer Institute is holding a donation drive from October 19 – 26 to provide assistance to those affected by the devastating Napa and Northern California fires. Toiletries and pet supplies will be accepted. Donations can be dropped off at:

For more information, … Full Story>

Reminder about IRB Renewals

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With the holidays approaching, here’s a reminder for clinical research staff to start the continuing review process for their studies as soon as they can. Some of you may delay it until few weeks prior to the expiration date but the IRB sends reminders 3 months in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute!

Four W’s of SmartPhrases

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  • WHAT are SmartPhrases?
    • Used to document research related visits and the details associated with each of these visits
  • WHO uses SmartPhrases?
    • Clinical Research Coordinators, PAs, NPs, Nurse Coordinators
  • WHEN are SmartPhrases used?
    • Consenting note, eligibility note, research related clinic note, drug accountability note
  • WHY use SmartPhrases?
    • To meet the elements of ALCOA for documentation
      • Attributable (traceable to person, date and subject visit),
      • Legible (clear enough to read),
      • Contemporaneous (record events as they happen),
      • Original (have the earliest record of source) and
      • Accurate (reflect true observations)
    • SmartPhrases are shortcuts that allow investigators to capture valuable information based on protocol requirements
    • Allows data managers to pull important clinical research information from progress notes to clinical databases with ease
    • Decreases potential protocol deviations
    • Time utilized upfront to capture valuable information decreases the amount of time and effort at a later date

For examples of completed SmartPhrase Tables, … Full Story>