USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

An NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO)

Faculty & Staff Resources

 Sponsors 

Overview of Clinical Research Infrastructure

The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center has a robust and mature clinical research infrastructure designed to support investigators in the conduct of all cancer clinical trials. The Associate Director (AD) for Clinical Research oversees this infrastructure which includes the Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO), the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), and the Janice and Robert Hall Clinical Trials Biospecimens Laboratory.  Furthermore, the AD for Clinical Research provides guidance and joint oversight to Data Science and Translational Pathology Shared Resources regarding activities related to clinical trials.

 Contact Information:
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO)
1355 San Pablo Street, DOH 100
Los Angeles, CA  90033
Telephone: (323) 865-0451

Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO)

The Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO) serves as the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center centralized clinical trials office.  It provides a one-stop shop for all investigators conducting cancer clinical trials, independent of department or division.  CISO services cover the entire spectrum of clinical trials development and conduct from design to protocol writing, regulatory activities, protocol conduct, quality assurance and oversight, and publication.

Mission: The Clinical Investigations Support Office (CISO) is a service-oriented organization dedicated to supporting the development, conduct and dissemination of cutting-edge cancer clinical trials that advance cancer care in an environment of excellence, integrity, and efficiency.

Our Services

We offer comprehensive support throughout the entire lifecycle of a clinical trial, including:

    • Trial Development for Investigator-Initiated Trials – Assisting investigators in designing and developing their own clinical trials, including biostatistics support, Investigational New Drug (IND) application submission, and multisite coordination. The first step for Investigator-Initiated Trials development is the Design and Feasibility Meeting.   An overview of the steps involved in developing and conducting investigator-initiated clinical trials can be found in the USC Norris IITs: A Guidance for Investigators.
    • Trial Implementation – Overseeing the activation and execution of clinical trials, provision of research staff, coordinating interactions with sponsors, and specimen processing including s for interventional and non-interventional studies
    • Regulatory Support – Supporting investigators through the entire activation process, ensuring compliance with FDA regulations, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, and other applicable standards
    • Quality Assurance – Maintaining high standards for data integrity and patient safety through monitoring of investigator-initiated and federally-funded clinical trials
    • Staff Training & Compliance – Providing comprehensive and standardized training and oversight to all research staff

Patients

At the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of clinical trials across all types of cancer.  With more than 250 active clinical trials and a large cadre of nationally and internationally recognized expert physician investigators, we are proud to offer patients access to the latest innovations in cancer care. Our trials range from early-phase studies (phase 1) that evaluate novel therapies, some of which are developed in our own laboratories, to later phase trials (phase 3) that establish new standards for treatment—helping bring tomorrow’s therapies to patients today.

CISO Leadership

Anthony El-Khoueiry, MD

Associate Director for Clinical Research elkhouei@med.usc.edu

Diana Hanna, MD

CISO Medical Director Diana.Hanna@med.usc.edu

Zeno Ashai, MPH, MBBS

CISO Associate Director Zeno.Ashai@med.usc.edu

Xiomara Menendez, RN, BSN, MSL

Assistant Director for Clinical Research Operations xiomara.menendez@med.usc.edu