Patient-Oriented Research and Mentoring in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

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ABSTRACT The candidate, Sung Won Choi MD MS, is a physician-scientist who has developed a career in patient-oriented research (POR). She is an active clinical pediatric oncologist who focuses on treating life-threatening blood diseases with novel immune-based therapies, such as allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). Despite the potentially curative intent of HCT, its broader application has been limited by acute graft-versus host disease (GVHD). Unfortunately, acute GVHD can negatively impact clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. Dr. Choi’s research program has focused on designing innovative clinical trials to mitigate acute GVHD by incorporating biological, clinical, and psychosocial correlative studies and leveraging modern mobile health technologies to further enhance care delivery. Thus, her research program provides a unique training opportunity for early stage investigators interested in POR, which is complemented by the following outstanding resources at the University of Michigan: (1) NHLBI T32 Training Grant in Hematology (T32 HL007622); (2) Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) | Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1TR002240); (3) Clinical Trials Support Unit; and (4) School of Public Health. This ideal training environment will allow young, clinical investigators to develop and gain new skills in clinical trials design, qualitative and quantitative research methods, communication and presentation skills, manuscript and grant writing, professional growth, individual development plans, team science projects, ethical conduct of research, and protection of human subjects. Indeed, this rich environment has influenced Dr. Choi’s overall career goal of designing rigorous POR studies, mentoring the next generation of POR investigators, and together with her mentees, making meaningful contributions to the clinical and HRQOL outcomes of family caregivers and HCT patients through joint productive activity. In this application, Dr. Choi proposes didactic courses and group discussions coupled with experiential training in her currently funded research projects: in a phase I/II clinical trial, to test the safety and efficacy of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor to prevent acute GVHD in pediatric HCT (Aim 1); in a mobile health randomized trial, to examine the effectiveness of Roadmap 2.0, a positive psychology intervention in family caregivers of HCT patients (Aim 2). Dr. Choi will also develop new research directions by generating preliminary data for a future, full-scale just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) to promote physical and mental HRQOL in family caregivers of HCT patients (Aim 3). This new research direction is a logical extension of Aim 2. Thus, these projects will collectively provide Dr. Choi’s trainees with unique experiences in: i) multidisciplinary team science; ii) designing, conducting, and analyzing pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical (social and behavioral) interventions; iii) early phase clinical trial design and randomized controlled trial design; and iii) and generating new research ideas as well as preliminary data for future grant applications. Dr. Choi will expand her mentoring activities and build core knowledge in professional development.