USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

An NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO)

The Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO) serves as a centralized unit to oversee the clinical research infrastructure and assist investigators in their conduct of clinical trials and translational research projects.

For protocol documents, CISO support documents, investigator resources, and CISO templates, click HERE.

If you are a physician looking for a clinical trial, click HERE

Protocol Administration

The Protocol Administration Unit provides the centralized consultation and regulatory services necessary for the design, initiation, and conduct of clinical trials. Its services are listed below:

      • Consultations for protocol development.
      • Regulatory support
      • A protocol tracking system
      • Patient registration/data management tools
      • Assistance to Clinical Investigations Committee (CIC) in monitoring protocol progress

Protocol Implementation

The Protocol Implementation Unit provides the following:

      • Centralized unit for study coordinators and data managers
      • Centralized data control and oversight
      • Quality assurance

Administrative/Business Management

The Administrative/Business Management Unit fulfills administrative functions necessary for efficiency and coordination of CISO with sponsors, investigators, and others. Services are listed below:

      • Assist in budget development
      • Personnel management
      • Interface with other institutional entities


In addition to the services provided by the three operational units, CISO plays a central coordinating role within the Cancer Center through its interactions with other cores such as the Data Science Core, the Translational Pathology Core, the Protocol Review and Monitoring System entities {Clinical Investigations Committee (CIC) and the Quality Assurance and Monitoring Committee (QAMC), and the Data Monitoring and Safety Committee (DSMC). 

Contact Information

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO)
NOR 7310F
Los Angeles, CA 90089

CoreCISO@med.usc.edu

(323) 865-0451​

CISO Leadership

Anthony El-Khoueiry, MD 

Director

elkhouei@med.usc.edu

Zeno Ashai, MPH, MBBS 

Associate Director

Zeno.Ashai@med.usc.edu