The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has tapped the American College of Radiology's (ACR) Chief Research Officer Etta Pisano, MD, to develop its clinical trial portfolio and lead its Advancing Clinical Trials Readiness initiative.
The ARPA-H is a new federal health research and development organization within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Pisano is the first radiologist appointed to such a role in the ARPA-H, and she will lead the initiative under the agency's Resilient Systems Mission office director, Jennifer Roberts, PhD, according to a statement released by the ACR. In the position, she will "work to build underserved and minority participation in clinical trials -- including identifying and onboarding rural facilities and those outside of large academic medical centers -- such as emerging retail healthcare sites," the college said.
Pisano will continue to serve as ACR Chief Research Officer and as study chair of the Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST), which is led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and supported by the National Cancer Institute. Under Pisano, TMIST is assembling "one of the most diverse cancer screening trial populations ever," the ACR noted: approximately 21% of TMIST U.S. participants are Black -- more than double the average rate for Black participation in NCI-funded clinical trials (9%).
"I am honored to be working for ARPA-H to identify and promote research that can improve healthcare quality, efficacy and delivery, and to improve patient care and access to clinical trials for all Americans, including women, rural residents and the underserved," Pisano said in the ACR statement.
