Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Patient Alliance Committee

Bringing the patient voice into every stage of research

The Patient Alliance Committee brings the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and care partners are woven into every stage of Alliance clinical research. As members of the Alliance scientific community, patient representatives work alongside investigators, clinicians, and research professionals to shape studies that are scientifically rigorous, meaningful, accessible, and responsive to the needs of people affected by cancer. 

Representing varied cancer experiences, communities, and perspectives across the country, patient representatives strengthen study design, enhances participant engagement, and help ensure that research reflects the realities of people with and receiving care for cancer. 

How patient representatives contribute

Alliance patient representatives contribute throughout the clinical trial lifecycle. As members of study teams and Alliance disease, modality, and administrative committees, they collaborate with researchers to: 

  • Review study concepts and clinical trial protocols
  • Identify opportunities to improve the patient experience and reduce barriers to participation
  • Provide feedback on study schedules, eligibility criteria, informed consent materials, and participant communications
  • Promote inclusive access to clinical trials, particularly for underrepresented populations
  • Develop plain-language summaries of study results to help patients and the public better understand research findings
  • Share how patients experience trials by providing the patient perspective through presentations, education, and collaborations with national organizations and community partners

Meet our patient representatives 

Alliance patient representatives serve on committees across the organization, bringing their expertise and lived experience to research spanning the continuum of cancer care. Below are patient representative and the Alliance committees on which they serve. 

  • Chair: Patty Spears
  • Vice Chair – Population, Education, Access, and Research (PEAR): Vernal Branch
  • Vice Chair – Cancer Control: Jane Perlmutter, PhD, MBA
  • Disease Committees
    • Breast: Eva May, MBA; Jane Perlmutter, PhD, MBA; Ivis Sampayo; M. Kelly Shanahan, MD; Patty Spears
    • Gastrointestinal Cancers (GI): Julie Krause; Yasmeen Watson
    • Genitourinary (GU): Robert Downey
    • Leukemia: Lisa Cohen, MBA; Amanda Ferraro
    • Lymphoma: Mike Abrams
    • Myeloma: C. Todd Kennedy
    • Neuro-oncology: Helaine Bader, MPH
    • Respiratory: Pam Moffitt; Sara Whitlock, MSN
  • Modality Committees
    • Experimental Therapeutics and Rare Tumors: Deborah Collyar
    • Transplantation and Cell-based Therapies: C. Todd Kennedy
    • Patient Alliance: All patient representatives
  • Cancer Control Program (CCP) Committees
    • Executive Committee: Jane Perlmutter
    • Cancer Care Delivery Research: C. Todd Kennedy; Jane Perlmutter, PhD, MBA; Patty Spears
    • Cancer in the Older Adult: Sandra Finestone, PsyD; Barbara LeStage; Pamela Moffitt
    • Community Oncology: Deborah Collyar; Eva May, MBA
    • Population, Education, Access, and Research (PEAR): Michael Abrams; Vernal Branch; Coleen Crespo, MS; Phyllis Pettit-Nassi, MS; Ivis Sampayo; Yasmeen Watson 
    • Health Outcomes: Sandra Finestone, PsyD; Eva May, MBA
    • Prevention: Vernal Branch; Eva May, MBA; Patty Spears
    • Symptom Intervention: Julie Krause; Julia Maues; Jane Perlmutter, PhD, MBA; M. Kelly Shanahan, MD 
    • AYA Working Group: Celeste (Bunny) Leach