FOCUS: Kris Michael Mahadeo, MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist Kris Michael Mahadeo, MD., has been with Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) in New York for two years. He was previously at University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Like many other specialists in pediatric cancer, he credits the low mortality rate among children with cancer to the long history of clinical trials in this area.
“Despite not having any new drugs in pediatric cancer for quite some time, we have seen cure rates of 70 to 90 percent,” he says. “Clinical research has been paramount to any success we have had.”
Dr. Mahadeo primarily works in underserved communities, which can pose particular challenges in enrolling and retaining patients. “Due to the time sensitivity of enrolling pediatric patients in clinical trials, we have to be creative and figure out how to help these families,” he says. “Often families don’t have the resources to make appointments on a regular basis.” He and his colleagues work closely with partner groups to ensure the resources are available to ensure successful enrollment.
Because of the unique challenges he faces as a practicing physician with a desire to also serve as principal investigator for clinical trials, Dr Mahadeo and his colleagues rely on BRANY to facilitate industry-sponsored clinical trials that they feel are important to have available to their patients. Once Dr. Mahadeo receives the regulatory packet, he has the BRANY team organize and develop the budget and contract, prepare materials for IRB review, and handle the clinical trial billing and collection process.
“Having BRANY take care of the administrative tasks associated with running clinical trials allows me to focus on working with patients and their families. I find that when families understand the legacy of people who have enrolled before them, and the benefit it has to all pediatric cancer patients, they are more inclined to participate.”
