Committee on Patient Protection in Research Trials Question and Answer

Q. Why is Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center forming a review committee?

A. Our utmost concern during research trials is for patient safety. It is our objective to assure ourselves, the public and our patients that our policies and practices are a "best practices" model for all clinical trial research. An independent, outside review of these policies and practices will provide us with the objective information necessary to continue to strengthen and enhance the lifesaving research we conduct.

Q. Who will chair the committee?

A. The Reverend William J. Sullivan, former President and now Chancellor of Seattle University, will chair the committee. Sullivan is currently on the Hutchinson Center's Board of Trustees.

Q. Who will make up the committee?

A. The committee will be comprised of community leaders and at least one former patient or patient family member. Several members will have no connection with the Hutchinson Center.

Q. What is the primary function of the committee?

A. To evaluate reports from independent experts who will review the Center's practices related to the protection of research subjects, including the process of the Institutional Review Board, the implementation of informed consents for study participants, and protocol safety and data monitoring of clinical trials. Based on these reports, the committee will make recommendations to the Hutchinson Center's Board of Trustees.

Q. Who are the members of the committee?

A. The Committee members are:
• Boh Dickey, Seattle Business Leader and chair, University of Washington Academic Medical Center board
• James Dwyer, former director of the Port of Seattle and president and chief executive officer
• Anne Farrell, president and chief executive officer, The Seattle Foundation
• Jon Fine, president and chief executive officer, United Way of King County
• Richard Guy, former chief justice, Washington State Supreme Court
• Linda Mattox, community volunteer and trustee, Seattle Children's
• J. Shan Mullin, partner, Perkins Coie LLP, chair, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance board and trustee Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center board
• Marsha Pechman, judge, U.S. District Court
• William Ruckelshaus, civic leader and strategic director, Madrona Venture Group
• Pat Stanford, trustee, University of Washington Academic Medical Center board, and trustee, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center board
• William J. Sullivan, chancellor, Seattle University, and trustee, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Dina Wells, trustee, Seattle Children's board, and trustee, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance board

Q. Who are the nationally recognized experts conducting the review?

A. To be determined. The Committee will be selecting the independent experts.

Q. When will the Committee begin meeting?

A. The first organizational meeting was on April 19.

Q. How long do you expect the review to take?

A. It is difficult to determine how long a review would take. The Committee is committed to expediting the process, but realizes it will take at minimum several months.

Q. How will the results of the committee's review be announced?

A. Upon assessment of the reports from the independent experts, the Committee will report on the status of current practices and will make recommendations to the Hutchinson Center's Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will determine the appropriate method to announce the results.

	Committee Report