Newswise — SEATTLE – The Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR), an innovative research institute based at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center that is charged with evaluating and improving the effectiveness and value of cancer prevention and treatment strategies through collaborative research – including health-economic analyses – has hired Gary Lyman, M.D., M.P.H., of Duke University to serve as the Institute’s co-director. His official start date was Jan. 2.
Lyman served as professor of medicine and senior fellow at the Duke Center for Clinical Health Policy Research and Director of the Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes Research Program in Oncology at the Duke Cancer Institute since 2007. He is nationally and internationally recognized for his leadership in comparative effectiveness, health services and outcomes research. His research has been supported by the National Cancer Institute, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, among others.
Lyman will co-lead HICOR with internist and health care economist Scott Ramsey, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the Cancer Prevention Program in the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutch.
“We are privileged to have Dr. Lyman on the HICOR team,” Ramsey said. “Gary’s wealth of oncology expertise, his strong clinical and health outcomes research portfolio, and his leadership in developing and increasing adherence to oncology clinical practice guidelines will be a significant asset to HICOR’s commitment to reducing cost while improving the quality of cancer care for insurers, providers and above all, patients.”
Lyman will hold appointments within the Cancer Prevention Program at the Hutch, the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and affiliate appointments within the Department of Health Services at the UW School of Public Health and in the UW School of Pharmacy. He also will practice as a medical oncologist in the Breast Cancer Program at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the cancer care arm of Fred Hutch, UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s.
Lyman’s research has played a key role in establishing clinical practice guidelines for cancer management through the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and he is co-leading the development of comprehensive ASCO breast cancer and survivorship guidelines. He has served on numerous ASCO committees including the ASCO Value in Cancer Care Task Force, which is leading efforts to integrate economics into evidence-based medicine, policy and research. Lyman currently serves on the ASCO board of directors and is also active with the American Society of Hematology and several other professional clinical and cancer research organizations.
“HICOR is positioned to lead the nation in examining the impact and overall value of cancer treatment practices to ensure that both patients and their providers achieve optimal outcomes despite the challenges of the current health care environment,” Lyman said. “As a practicing oncologist, I was particularly drawn to HICOR’s focus on how cancer treatment affects the entire patient, from the medical to the financial. The work that HICOR is doing will undoubtedly have a dramatic impact on improving the practice of oncology in the future. I am both enthusiastic and proud to be a part of this groundbreaking opportunity.”# # #
About the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research
The Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR) is an innovative research institute that leverages the scientific excellence and oncology expertise of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The mission of HICOR is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of cancer prevention, early detection and treatment to reduce the financial and human burden of cancer.
About Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutch’s pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer with minimal side effects. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nation’s first and largest cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women’s Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Private contributions are essential for enabling Fred Hutch scientists to explore novel research opportunities that lead to important medical breakthroughs. For more information visit www.fredhutch.org or follow Fred Hutch on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
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