Elizabeth Barksdale

Today, almost half of US patients with cancer experience psychological stress related to the cost of treatment.1 As the cost of cancer care increases, patient co-payments and deductibles have risen.2 More than three quarters of people with cancer leave the workforce during their treatment, whereas more than one third spend their life savings within 2 years after diagnosis.3 This financial strain is greater among under-represented groups, which may lead to greater stress, reduced adherence to...

Elizabeth KS Barksdale, PhD Photo courtesy of Elizabeth KS Barksdale, PhD THE FIELD OF CANCER IMMUN​OTHERAPY ​has grown quickly since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved an immune checkpoint inhibitor to treat cancer in 2011. There are now seven FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors used to treat an ever-increasing number of cancer types. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating combinations of checkpoint inhibitors with other cancer therapies for treatment.

As the January 6 deadline for submitting comments on proposed updates to human subjects research regulations loomed, popular media took notice. Just last week the New York Times and Forbes published commentaries on the strengths and weaknesses of both the current and proposed rules. Federal human research protection regulations have been on the books since 1974.