Ensuring the timely execution of multiple clinical trials at a major university is no small task. Nana Peprah, MPH, clinical research coordinator at the University of Chicago, may see herself as only a coordinator, but her efforts in keeping clinical research trials on schedule through compassion and service to cancer patients and clinical staff have made her an exemplary member of her team.

When she first received an email announcing that she was the winner of this year’s 2018 Sandra Turner Excellence in Clinical Research Award from Hoosier Cancer Research Network, she didn’t believe it.

“Sometimes we get emails from various people asking us to come and do talks, because I don’t think they know that we’re just coordinators. We’re not doctors and we’re not nurses,” Peprah explains.

When she realized the email was real, she was stunned and overjoyed to be recognized for the value she brings to work every day.

“I am very honored to be given the award this year,” Peprah says. “I never do my work or do anything in anticipation of getting rewarded, so it was really surprising.”

Every year, Hoosier Cancer Research Network selects individuals who exemplify the qualities of the late Sandra Turner, HCRN’s first executive director, including a strong professional commitment, contribution to the progress of oncology care, and the constant touch of compassion. The Sandra Turner Excellence in Clinical Research Award was established in 2002 by William B. Fisher, MD, one of HCRN’s founders, through the George and Sarah Jane Fisher Fund.

Peprah considers herself extremely organized, and says she tries to stay two steps ahead to ensure the timeliness of clinical trial benchmarks. She does everything from reviewing eligibility and scheduling screening assessments to requesting tissue and tracking the progress of patients in how they are responding to treatment. Getting everything scheduled in a timely manner to stay within the window for labs and scans is critical to her success.

“I try to schedule two months in advance because we are a very large institution and there are so many other programs that also have clinical trials as well as patients that are just on standard of care treatment,” Peprah says. “I’m big on to-do lists.”

Currently, her department, which focuses on breast cancer research, is running 30 different protocols. Among them is the phase II HCRN study, BRE12-158, which tests genomically directed therapy for patients with triple negative breast cancer. The study encompasses extracting a patient’s tumor DNA and RNA and performing next generation sequencing.

Peprah says that she appreciates all the support she has received from HCRN on the BRE12-158 study, especially from Donna Sullivan, project manager, and Eileen Kramer, data manager, who make themselves available to answer questions regarding a protocol or data analysis.

Peprah’s interest in medicine began at an early age. Originally, she considered becoming a doctor. However, as time passed, Peprah realized she wanted to impact the health of populations.

After completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2013 at University of Illinois at Chicago, she pursued a Master of Public Health degree at DePaul University and graduated with her master’s degree in 2015. As a graduate student intern for the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children, Peprah created the first-ever Baby-Friendly Site Designation Toolkit for the consortium, which supported the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which was established to assist lactation consultants and staff at seven hospitals in Chicago achieve a ‘Baby-Friendly’ hospital designation.

Her transition to working in cancer research began in 2014, when she joined University of Chicago as a clinical research associate for the breast program in Hematology/Oncology. In 2016, she was promoted to clinical research coordinator, where she remains today.

“It’s a very special group of people,” Peprah says of the cancer patients she supports. “Some are cancer survivors that have relapsed.”

She says having studied psychology and public health has helped her relate and interact with clinical staff, as well as patients who are under a great deal of pain and stress. Peprah is also sensitive about the health disparities that exist where she lives in the south side of Chicago.

“Our institution is on the southside of Chicago,” Peprah says. “Sometimes patients can’t get here because of transportation or lack of a support system.”

She says many patients from the area come to the hospital to participate in clinical trials.

“We try to make them aware of the resources available,” she says, so they can have access to new treatments.

Lauren Wall, director, clinical research operations at the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division, Hematology/Oncology, says Peprah has been a strong leader and critical member of their Oncology Breast Research Program.

“Her commitment to the conduct of safe and compliant research has been unmatched,” Wall said. “She is part of a team that continuously seeks new avenues of improvement, not only of our clinical research operations, but also of the overall experience for the patient. We are so thrilled that the Hoosier Cancer Research Network has recognized Nana in her role as a clinical research coordinator.”

Story by Angie Antonopoulos

About Hoosier Cancer Research Network:

Hoosier Cancer Research Network (formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group) conducts innovative cancer research in collaboration with academic and community physicians and scientists across the United States. The organization provides comprehensive clinical trial management and support, from conception through publication. Created in 1984 as a program of the Walther Cancer Institute, Hoosier Cancer Research Network became an independent nonprofit clinical research organization in 2007. Since its founding, Hoosier Cancer Research Network has conducted more than 200 trials in a variety of cancer types and supportive care, resulting in more than 350 publications. More than 8,000 subjects have participated in Hoosier Cancer Research Network clinical trials.