National Cancer Institute - Cancer.gov

Information for Researchers

The goal of the Office of Patient-Centered Outcomes (OPCORe) is to integrate the voice of the patient, and in particular, the use of patient-centered outcomes into early-phase clinical trials. Both the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration have noted the need for more systematic ways of gathering patients’ perspectives on their condition and the impact of novel therapies on how they feel and function.

For more information, please see About OPCORe, other resources, and publications.

Academic researchers, researchers from pharmaceutical and health industries who are interested in learning more about our work, please contact OPCORe (CCR.OPCORe@mail.nih.gov).

CCR Researchers

OPCORe has developed a patient-reported outcomes (PRO) protocol template for use by CCR researchers. The goal of OPCORe’s PRO template is to systematically integrate PRO measures into the clinical trials conducted at the Center for Cancer Research, offer valuable insight into the patient experience and provide the opportunity to evaluate innovative approaches to data collection and analysis.

Interested CCR researchers should contact OPCORe (CCR.OPCORe@mail.nih.gov) to schedule a mutually convenient time for discussion.

More resources and information are available on CCR Central. (CCR staff only)

Ongoing Studies

Virtual Reality Study

Brain cancer patients often feel distressed and anxious before MRI scans and clinical appointments. This study will determine if using a virtual reality headset to teach relaxation, breathing, and mindfulness techniques can reduce stress and improve mood and overall feelings of well-being in these patients.

Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) at the Time of Clinical Evaluation to Improve Psychological Distress and Anxiety in Primary Brain Tumor (PBT) Patients

Sleep Observation Study

Participants will wear a smart device to measure daytime sleepiness and activity. This will provide clinicians with insight into the effect of sleep disturbance on people with brain cancers.

Assessing Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Primary Brain Tumors Patients

  • Principal Investigator: Terri S. Armstrong, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP
  • Lead AI: Amanda King, Ph.D., APNP-BC
  • Referral contact: National Cancer Institute Referral Office, 888-624-1937
  • Status: Open - Enrolling by Invitation Only

Phase II Trial Evaluating the Association of Peripheral Blood Immunologic Response to Therapeutic Response to Adjuvant Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibition (ICI) in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma or Gliosarcoma

A first-in-human phase I single-agent dose-escalation, food effect and dose expansion study of oral ONC206 in recurrent and rare primary central nervous system neoplasms

Phase II trial evaluating Nivolumab in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas with and without hypermutator phenotype

Phase II Trial of the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Nivolumab in Patients with Recurrent Select Rare CNS Cancers