Dr. Robert F. Vizza Lustgarten Clinical Accelerator Initiative (CAI)
The CAI reduces the time from clinical trial concept to launch using a Lustgarten-developed process based on the best available science and employing innovative biomarkers. These “smarter” clinical trials generate large volumes of data scientists use to help inform and improve current and future clinical trials and expedite new treatments.
CAI studies are typically small, enrolling 10-20 patients, enabling the researchers to deeply analyze each patient and extract the most information possible.
Clinical Accelerator Initiative trials include:
- Principal Investigator: Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD, NYU Langone Health
- Proposal Title- Evaluation of the Mechanism and Efficacy of IL-15 superagonist-based neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer
- Award Budget Total: $1,977,282
- March 1, 2023-February 28, 2026
- Award Budget Total: $1,977,282
- Proposal Title- Evaluation of the Mechanism and Efficacy of IL-15 superagonist-based neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer
- Principal Investigator: Andrew Lowy, MD, FACS, UC San Diego Health Moores Cancer Center
- Proposal Title- A Phase 2 Trial of FOLFIRINOX plus Eganelisib in Patients with Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
- Award Budget Total: $1,317,161
- March 1, 2023-February 28, 2025
- Award Budget Total: $1,317,161
- Proposal Title- A Phase 2 Trial of FOLFIRINOX plus Eganelisib in Patients with Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
- Principal Investigator: James Cleary, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Phase Ib/II, open-label, multicenter, randomized study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ‘switch maintenance’ combination immunotherapy using TIGIT/PD-1 co-blockade + CD40 agonism in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer
- Award Budget Total: $1,494,315
- August 1, 2022-July 31, 2025
- Award Budget Total: $1,494,315
- Phase Ib/II, open-label, multicenter, randomized study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ‘switch maintenance’ combination immunotherapy using TIGIT/PD-1 co-blockade + CD40 agonism in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer
- Principal Investigator: Dung Thi Le, MD, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution
- Platform Study: Targeting the Myeloid-stromal Compartment to Enhance Vaccine Induced T Cell Responses
- Award Budget Total: $1,865,182
- June 1, 2021-May 30, 2025
- Award Budget Total: $1,865,182
- Platform Study: Targeting the Myeloid-stromal Compartment to Enhance Vaccine Induced T Cell Responses
- Principal Investigator: Colin D. Weekes, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
- A Phase II Study Of FOLFIRINOX Combined With The GSK-3 ß Inhibitor 9-ING-41 and The TGF-ß Inhibitor Losartan In Patients With Untreated Metastatic Adenocarcinoma.
- Award Budget Total: $1,500,000
- November 1, 2021-October 31, 2024
- Award Budget Total: $1,500,000
- A Phase II Study Of FOLFIRINOX Combined With The GSK-3 ß Inhibitor 9-ING-41 and The TGF-ß Inhibitor Losartan In Patients With Untreated Metastatic Adenocarcinoma.
- Principal Investigator: Lei Zheng, MD, PhD, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University
- Targeting the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Cancer with a Neoadjuvant Platform Clinical Trial
- Award Budget Total: $1,694,315
- June 1, 2021-May 31, 2024
- Award Budget Total: $1,694,315
- Targeting the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Cancer with a Neoadjuvant Platform Clinical Trial
The TAG drives the success of the CAI by identifying, soliciting, vetting, and developing new clinical trial concepts based on the best available science.
Members represent the following institutions:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Duke University
Johns Hopkins
Massachusetts General Hospital
MD Anderson
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Northwell Health
NYU Langone
Oregon Health & Science University
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
UC San Diego
University of Pennsylvania
