Efforts to Discover Novel Therapies and Reduce Treatment Toxicities for Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients Through Collaboration and the NCTN

About This Grant

Boyu Hu, MD is an Associate Professor at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and a clinical investigator whose research has focused on discovering novel and combination treatments for patients with lymphoid malignancies. His portfolio of clinical trials for lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) addresses key areas of unmet need and includes National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored trials whose results will have practice-changing implications. The scope of this program is significant and aims to improve the local, national and international care of lymphoma patients through drug discovery and reduction of treatment toxicities. Due to Dr. Hu’s participation in the SWOG cooperative group and the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), he dedicates 40% of his time to performing and promoting NCI-sponsored clinical trials. This includes Dr. Hu’s efforts as the national co-chair and lead adult principal investigator (PI) for the early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cooperative group study, AHOD2131 (NCT005675410), and national PI for the upcoming SWOG-led NCTN trial for relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma, MOZART MZL (NCT pending). As Director of Lymphoma and CLL at HCI, he has been a strong champion of NCTN-based studies leading his group to open almost every NCI-sponsored lymphoma/CLL study, which has resulted in HCI being top 10 nationally for accrual in several of the studies on which he is the site PI including S1826 (HL), EA4151 and EA4181 (both mantle cell lymphoma). Dr. Hu also sponsors the HCI lymphoma/CLL group to engage in the NCTN by sponsoring his lymphoma/CLL faculty to participate in the Lymphoma Committees for SWOG and ALLIANCE. Due to his extensive leadership experience and participation within the NCTN, he was selected as the SWOG co-PI for HCI’s UG1 grant (5UG1CA233178). All of Dr. Hu’s efforts within the NCTN are currently unfunded. At HCI, he serves on several committees dedicated to hematology clinical research including his role as a physician leader for both the hematology clinical trials research group and HCI clinical trials office, and member of institutional protocol development committee. Furthermore, he is the primary mentor for multiple junior faculty within the lymphoma/CLL group as well as a pediatric oncologist at Primary Children’s Hospital of Utah. Each of his mentees have received prestigious foundational career development awards under his mentorship. The R50 Award would support Dr. Hu to continue his work at HCI and within the NCTN, which in turn would aid in achieving the long-term goals of NCI-funded clinical research including: 1) utilization of results from HCI investigator-initiated studies to develop new cooperative group studies and advocating for promising junior faculty to lead these national trials, 2) expand access to clinical trials for all patients within HCI’s catchment area, especially for those in rural areas, and 3) increase clinical trial enrollments through utilization of HCI’s Patient Navigation and Patient & Public Education Programs.