The goal of the Measurement, Outcomes, and Population Science Program is to identify, develop and apply the best methods to answer emerging research questions in clinical cancer care and research.
These methods include the design and testing of patient-centered outcomes, evaluation of comparative effectiveness of diagnostics and therapeutics, incorporating cost effectiveness analysis, systematic review, and meta-analysis, and the application of decision analysis and statistical modeling to clinical decision-making.
More traditional population science disciplines, such as epidemiology, cancer prevention and control are also represented. Specifically, the program aims to:
- Advance the science of cancer clinical trials design, analysis, and dissemination, incorporating the heterogeneity of patient and disease characteristics
- Develop and test interventions to reduce the adverse impact of the cancer diagnosis, treatment, and sequelae on patients and their families
- Perform comparative effectiveness analysis of emerging diagnostics and therapeutics across the cancer continuum
- Develop population-based approaches to address cancer prevention and risk mitigation as a function of environmental exposure, diet and lifestyle, and changing demographics (inclusive of aging)
The expertise of investigators in this program provides a unique resource for cancer collaborations and translational applications across the Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center.
All of the specialties represented in the program represent opportunities for established and emerging methodologies to be applied to cancer issues. We are excited to be exploring these actively as a program and especially interested in the co-evolution of our CTSI and Cancer Center efforts.