HOPA Research Grantees
2022 HOPA Research Grant Awardees
Kirollos Hanna, PharmD Pharmacist
Intervention in Oral Chemotherapy: Minimizing Toxicity with Telemonitoring and the PRO-CTCAET
Grant Amount: $34,500
As oral chemotherapy is being utilized more commonly in many various cancer treatments and has risks for increased adverse events and nonadherence; this study looked to determine if integrating a pharmacist with patient reported outcomes (PRO) of adverse events and new availability of telemedicine visits could improve potential toxicity, provide more real-time monitoring, and benefit the health system. The study design included comparing patients with normal standard of care monitoring and patients providing toxicity information via PRO-CTCAE every 7 days or with new toxicity which prompted a pharmacist led review and/or intervention. They were able to conclude this new process has the potential to improve outcomes for patients on oral chemotherapy agents and benefit the health system.
Narendranath Epperla and Jordan Lundberg, PharmD
Effect of pharmacogenomics on clearance of high-dose methotrexate in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Grant Amount: $58,000
Drs. Epperla and Lundberg are performing a prospective trial to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with delayed methotrexate clearance and increased toxicity in adult DLBCL patients receiving high dose methotrexate. Identifying patients most likely to experience toxicity could improve care by decreasing nephrotoxicity, length of admission, and glucaparidase administration. This research could lead to a cost-effective pharmacogenomics test to identify patients at high risk for methotrexate toxicity and optimize their management.
2021 HOPA Research Grant Awardees
Angela Stover, PharmD
Budgeting and piloting the patient centered pharmacy pathway for oral chemotherapy
Grant Amount: $44,920
Adverse effects from oral chemotherapy remain a significant barrier to adherence which can lead to poorer outcomes. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address barriers to adherence. Dr. Stover’s pilot study seeks to incorporate patient reported outcome measures into a patient-centered process to facilitate pharmacist intervention. This pilot study will assess whether this intervention improves patient reported adverse effects and efficacy outcomes.
Alexandre Chan, PharmD
PRO-Driven pharmacy education in ethnic minority patients receiving anti-cancer therapies
Grant Amount: $38,116
Cancer care disparities in ethnic minorities result in poor patient outcomes. Training pharmacists to recognize early issues of cancer care barriers earlier may improve cancer care in ethnic minorities. To address the problem, Dr. Chan’s PRIORITIES study seeks to utilize an established framework and incorporate pharmacist education into ethnic minorities cancer care. This study will assess the satisfaction and acceptance of pharmacist intervention and education.
2020 HOPA Research Grant Awardees
Benjamin Andrick, PharmD
Machine Learning Approach to Venous Thromboembolism Prediction in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy
Grant Amount: $92,000
The objective of Dr. Andrick’s study is to determine if a machine learning model can outperform the Khorana Score in predicting VTE in cancer patients. Several different algorithms will be compared against the Khorana Score. Additionally, known genetic risk factors will be incorporated to determine if these can increase predictive capabilities of the machine models. If successful, this study can highlight alternative strategies to improve the prediction of cancer patients’ risk of VTE.
Alison Palumbo, PharmD
Remote Patient Reported Quality of Life Outcomes in Patients on Oral Anti-Cancer Therapy
Grant Amount: $8,000
Quality of life impact for patients on oral chemotherapy has not been well defined. Patient reported outcomes (PROs) provide many benefits including improved outcomes, convenience, and opportunity for intervention to improve quality of life and reduce toxicity. The goal of this study is to determine the feasibility and utility of using electronic patient reported outcomes for quality of life.
