Evaluating quality in clinical cancer research: the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center experience.
BACKGROUND
Despite the unquestionable importance of clinically oriented research designed to test the safety and efficacy of new therapies in patients with malignant disease, there is limited information regarding strategies to evaluate the quality of such efforts at academic institutions.


METHODS
To address this issue, a committee of senior faculty at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center established specific criteria by which investigators from all departments engaged in clinical research could be formally evaluated. Scoring criteria were established and revised based on the results of a pilot study. Beginning in January 2004, the committee evaluated all faculty involved in clinical research within 35 departments. Scores for individual faculty members were assigned on a scale of 1 (outstanding) to 5; a score of 3 was set as the standard for the institution. Each department also received a score. The results of the evaluation were shared with departmental chairs and the Chief Academic Officer.


RESULTS
392 faculty were evaluated. The median score was 3. Full professors more frequently received a score of 1, but all faculty ranks received scores of 4 and 5. As a group, tenure/tenure track faculty achieved superior scores compared to nontenure track faculty.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our experience, we believe it is possible to conduct a rigorous consensus-based evaluation of the quality of clinical cancer research being conducted at an academic medical center. It is reasonable to suggest such evaluations can be used as a management tool and may lead to higher-quality clinical research.
Cox
James D
JD
Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Giralt
Sergio A
SA
Veazie
Mary L
ML
Ajani
Jaffer A
JA
Bruner
Janet M
JM
Chan
Ka Wah
KW
Hittelman
Walter N
WN
Hunt
Kelly K
KK
Iyer
Revathy B
RB
Karp
Daniel D
DD
Kuban
Deborah A
DA
Lippman
Scott M
SM
Raad
Issam I
II
Rodriguez-Bigas
Miguel A
MA
Zwelling
Leonard A
LA
Markman
Maurie
M
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards*