Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the maintenance phase of treatment have to take multiple different drugs on different days and cycles. With this complicated schedule, it is hard for patients to take the right drugs on the right days. We are looking at previous data to examine how many adolescent and young adult patients with ALL take their medications at the right time, and designing an intervention for patients that will help them keep track of their medication schedules. 

Trastuzumab (a breast cancer drug) is usually given to patients for 12 months, but data has shown that taking it for only 6 months is similarly effective for patients and has less side effects and costs for patients. We conducted surveys that showed the data directly to patients and asked them which option they would prefer, and included additional questions that help us see how they value trade-offs between efficacy, side effects, and costs. 

Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease that has symptoms similar to pneumonia. Despite its severity, there are no current treatments that have strong evidence for effectiveness in combating ACS. We are conducting a clinical trial (NCT05640271) testing whether a low dose of tocilizumab, an anti-inflammatory drug currently used to treat COVID-19 pneumonia, is effective in treating patients with ACS. 

Many cancer drugs that are currently on the market are approved and prescribed at dosages that are higher than is needed to achieve optimal outcomes for patients. This leads to unnecessary side effects for patients, as well as increased costs for patients and insurance companies. We looked through data for every patent-protected cancer drug taken orally (by mouth) to assess if the dosage was higher than necessary, and if so suggest new dosages that could reduce costs and/or side effects while maintaining effectiveness in treating patients’ cancer. The results of this project are available to the public at oncdoc.org.