Flatiron Health and American Cancer Society unveil Real-World Data Impact Award recipients

The 2023 Real-World Data Impact Awards, a collaboration between the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Flatiron Health, have been announced, marking the fourth year of their joint grant program. This initiative aims to support researchers funded by the ACS in conducting clinically relevant studies on cancer treatment and outcomes.

Since its inception, the grant program has provided $900,000 to fund 12 research questions. Eight studies stemming from previous grant recipients have been published, shedding light on disparities and outcomes in cancer care, particularly in acute myeloid leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer, and metastatic colorectal cancer. These findings underscore existing inequities and emphasize the need for personalized care approaches in oncology.

This year’s grant recipients include:

• Michael Egger, MD, MPH, Associate Professor at the University of Louisville, who will assess the comparative effectiveness of second-line therapies for advanced melanoma.
• Christopher Manz, MD, MSHP, Instructor in Medicine and Medical Oncologist at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, who will investigate racial and ethnic disparities in receipt of novel therapies and survival for hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Serena Phillips, DrPH, MPH, Senior Data Scientist at the University of Missouri, who will explore the relationship between paid sick leave mandates and cancer outcomes.

Each grantee will receive $75,000 to fund their research project, along with access to Flatiron’s de-identified dataset derived from electronic health records, and support from experts at both Flatiron and ACS.

The grant recipients participated in an informational panel discussion on their proposed research questions, highlighting the potential impact of their work and the significance of utilizing real-world data (RWD) in cancer research.

Neal Meropol, MD, Vice President of Research Oncology at Flatiron Health, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and highlighted the potential of RWD to drive inclusive research in oncology, saying, “Flatiron’s EHR-derived real-world data offers researchers a unique opportunity to drive inclusive research that has the potential to answer key questions relevant to cancer care delivery.”

Christina Annunziata, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President of Extramural Discovery Science at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the importance of innovative research in advancing cancer care and treatment, stating, “Partnering with Flatiron to offer these important grant opportunities represents one of the very best ways to help break new ground in cancer care and treatment.”