May 12, 2025
What many don’t see in clinical research is the coordination, care and collaboration required to move science forward. Behind every trial is a team of dedicated professionals making that progress possible. Daniel, a clinical research coordinator at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, is one of those people. Working within Radiation Oncology, Daniel helps bridge science and patient care, ensuring studies run smoothly while keeping a sharp focus on improving cancer treatment. In this Q&A, Daniel shares how he found his way into research, what keeps him motivated and why he believes the future of cancer care is brighter than ever.
Describe your role at the Clinical Trials Office. How does it play into the bigger picture of advancing medical research?
I am a clinical research coordinator for the Clinical Trials Office, and I play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of clinical trials. A coordinator works closely with the principal investigator (the lead researcher) to recruit and screen potential participants for various clinical studies. We work collaboratively with the entire KU Cancer Center team, clinical trial sponsors to ensure productivity, compliance and timely completion of studies. This includes providing accurate and timely data collection so certain drugs and devices can receive FDA approval and marketing for cancer treatment. Our growth and contributions at the cancer center are important for the development of science at a national and global scale.
At the cancer center, we are divided into 14 Disease Working Groups, and I fall under our Radiation Oncology group. Radiation Oncology is unique in which we work in parallel with different disease groups. Our studies involve experts from both Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology to optimize the best treatment planning for a patient. It often takes several years for a study to complete, however, as a coordinator you can quickly see your impact with patients. There are many times when I am helping a clinical trial participant on an investigational drug during the day and when I return home, I will see that same drug being marketed on TV. This is a true example of watching the advancement of medical research unfold before my eyes.
What inspired you to work in clinical research?
I have always been drawn to work that has a direct meaningful impact on people’s lives. Cancer affects so many individuals and families, and I wanted to be part of the effort to improve treatments and outcomes. During my undergraduate career, I was on a pre-medicine track to get into medical school but after participating in a research study sponsored by a National Science Foundation grant, I realized my true calling. Research allows you to work on different aspects of science including medicine. I started working in a clinical molecular oncology laboratory under Dr. Andrew Godwin right after college and it taught me the bases of clinical research. I then transitioned to my current patient facing role as a coordinator to align with my career goals. Now, after 5 years of working at KU Cancer Center, what continues to motivate me is the drive to find new answers. Research always keeps you digging for answers and being at the forefront of change puts a smile on my face.
What’s one aspect of clinical trials that most people don’t realize or understand?
When people tend to think about clinical trials, they always refer to national and global trials that impact the advancement of medicine. However, there are a lot of clinical trials that occur on a local scale. At KU Cancer Center, investigators can lead their own Investigator Initiated Trial (IIT) in which providers work on securing funding, resources and personnel to answer their own scientific hypothesis. These trials are important as they can answers questions that larger clinical trials are not able to. As a patient, it is important to understand that their participation on a local or national scale is important for cancer research.
If you could bust one myth about cancer clinical trials, what would it be?
One myth that I hear from patients is the belief that investigational drug trials always involve a placebo. In Radiation Oncology, we often work with phase II and III clinical trials that do not include a placebo. While the idea of a placebos can feel unsettling for some, it is important to understand that many trials are designed to ensure all participants receive some sort of active treatment. There are a wide range of studies available, and not all involve placebos. I would recommend reaching out to a provider or research coordinator to see what trial is the best fit for you.
What excites you about the future of cancer clinical research?
Clinical research is constantly revolving and sometimes it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends. What excites me about the future of cancer clinical research is the new integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Society has already seen the impact of AI on social media and ChatGPT, but I am curious to see what else the research industry comes up with. Incorporating AI into new studies may broaden our scope of cancer treatments and lead to more discoveries.