Characteristics of Chief Investigators of Radiation Oncology Clinical Trials in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> The Chief Investigator (CI) is the individual responsible for the overall development, conduct and reporting of a clinical trial.¹ Research demonstrates that diverse teams – composed of individuals of varying genders, cultures, ethnicities, training, and expertise – tend to outperform a homogenous group of highest performing individuals due to their collective problem-solving and cognitive diversity.^2,3 Furthermore, having diverse individuals in clinical leadership roles can, via the flow-on effect, enhance recruitment of diverse trial investigators and participants.⁴ Given the value of realizing diversity in clinical trials, this study aims to retrospectively examine characteristics of CIs in past, present, and proposed Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology (TROG) clinical trials. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> Data on CI characteristics were attained from the TROG website as well as archived files provided by the TROG scientific committee. Data included CCI discipline, experience (number of years post-fellowship), sex and institution (private vs public, metro vs regional). Descriptive statistics was employed to elucidate the data obtained. <h3>Results</h3> 118 TROG clinical trials have been led by 132 CIs since 1989. Less than 5% of studies had some missing CI data. Of 132 CIs, 86.4% (n = 114) were radiation oncologists (ROs), 9.9% (n = 12) were medical oncologists (MOs) and 3.0% (n = 4) were physicists. At the time in which they were appointed as a CI, 19.4% (n=25) had less than 5 years of experience post-fellowship, 31% (n=40) had between 5-10 years of experience post-fellowship and 49.6% (n=64) had more than 10 years of experience post-fellowship. There was a total of 26 female CIs (19.7%) and 105 male CIs (79.5%). The proportion of female CIs has trended upwards since the initiation of TROG trials; 1980-1989 (0%; n = 0), 1990-19999 (3.7%; n=1), 2000-2009 (25.6%; n = 11), 2010-2019 (27.5%; n=14), 2020-2029 (0% out of 6 initiated trials). In instances where there has been more than 1 CI assigned to a particular clinical trial (n = 17), female and male co-investigators made up 41.1% (n = 7), male only co-investigators made up 58.8% (n = 10) and female only co-investigators made up 0% (n=0). Trials have been conducted more often in the public (98.4%; n=122) compared to private setting (1.6%; n=2) and in metropolitan areas (82.9%, n=102) compared to regional areas (17.1%, n = 21). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Of 132 CIs who has led TROG clinical trials since 1989, most were ROs, those who have had over 10 years of experience (80.6%) and male (79.5%). Most CIs were affiliated with large public centers located in metropolitan areas. Further research is required to unpack and address the underlying reasons for the trends identified in this study such that optimal diversity amongst CIs can be achieved.