Research Methods in Supportive Oncology (RMSO)

Course description

This NCI-funded intensive 6-day workshop will provide an overview of fundamental methods, such as study designs, qualitative and survey methods, and approaches to data analysis in supportive oncology research. Over the course of the workshop, participants will write a complete study protocol under the direct mentorship of expert faculty in the field of supportive oncology. Participants will continue to receive assistance after the workshop from their workshop mentors to help in the implementation of their studies at their home institutions.

^{We are still waiting to hear definitively from NCI about funding for 2025. In the meantime, we are opening applications for the 2025 workshop, which will be tentatively held 5/18/25 - 5/23/25.} 

^{Applications are due 1/3/25 by midnight EST.  Please click here to apply.} 

Learning objectives

Essential workshop topics include: creation of conceptual models, supportive care clinical trials, development of psychosocial interventions, decision science, stakeholder engagement, web-based research, study of patient-provider communication, qualitative and survey methods, and data analysis.

Structure

The course consists of:

• Didactics on a broad array of essential topics including behavioral theories and conceptual models, intervention development, qualitative and quantitative methods, instrument selection, stakeholder engagement, and special human subject considerations.
• Mentored experience of writing your own full research protocol in small groups. You will submit an abstract for a proposed study and leave the workshop with a protocol.

Course leadership

William Pirl, MD, MPH and Jennifer Temel, MD will co-chair the workshop with a multidisciplinary team of faculty including: Joseph Greer, PhD; Elyse Park, MD, MPH; Lisa Wood, Phd; James Tulsky, MD; Areej El-Jawahri, MD; Abby Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA and others.

Who should attend?

Physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other health researchers who are early-stage researchers are eligible to attend. Participants must have a doctoral degree.

Course dates and location

The next workshop will tentatively be held May 18 - 23, 2025. 

The course will be offered virtually.

Tuition

The workshop is supported by NCI R25 181000 and there is no tuition fee.