Clinical Trials Training Course
This day and a half course is designed for those Clinical Research Associates (CRA) and/or nurses who have joined the Southwest Oncology Group in the past six months. The primary objective of the course is to provide basic information on Southwest Oncology Group and NCI policies and procedures as well as information that will assist CRA's in performing the job responsibilities of a Southwest Oncology Group Clinical Research Associate. This course is prepared by the Southwest Oncology Group Statistical Center with assistance from the Southwest Oncology Group Operations Office and is administrated by Cancer Research And Biostatistics (CRAB).

Clinical Research Associates Committee Continuing Education Workshop
This workshop is designed to accommodate the continuing education needs of CRA's and nurses that have completed the Clinical Trials Training Course and have at least six months experience with clinical trials. It focuses on disease processes pertinent to a specific disease site. Topics covered in previous workshops include head and neck cancers, lung cancers, prostate cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer. This workshop provides participants with Continuing Education Units from the Society of Clinical Research Associates upon successful completion of the workshop.

Direct Registration, Electronic Submission Seminar (DRESS)
DRESS is designed for those nurses and CRA's responsible for patient registration, information distribution and data submission for Southwest Oncology Group protocols. The four hour course emphasizes the use of the Internet to meet these data needs. Participants must have completed the Clinical Trials Training Course or have six months experience with the Southwest Oncology Group. Participation in this seminar is limited to forty or fewer per four hour session.

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Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT Workshop)
This course is designed for CRA's and/or nurses participating in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. It is a one and a half day course with the first day providing an overview of the PCPT, including a review of the requirements for the completion and documentation of participant follow up and presentations on data management issues. The second half day is presented as a forum focusing on presentation and discussion of adherence and other issues of current importance in the PCPT.

Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) Workshop
This one and a half day course is designed for SELECT Study Site staff. The first day is broken down into three main segments: a brief introductory session for new Study Site staff; a general session for all Study Site staff providing broad study information and addressing any current hot topics; a series of smaller breakout sessions where attendees will have a chance to meet with study coordinating staff as well as their colleagues to address various timely issues. The second half day is used for a poster session to expand on topics that may or may not have been specifically addressed the previous day. As space allows the poster session will include breakout sessions for specific demonstrations or sub-study meetings.

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Study Coordinator Workshop
The Study Coordinator Workshop is required for all investigators who have never served as a Study Coordinator and who wish to coordinate a Southwest Oncology Group protocol. The four hour workshop provides potential Study Coordinators with an overview of a variety of topics such as The Role of a Study Coordinator, Ethics in the Conduct of Clinical Research, Protocol Development, and Statistical Considerations. The Study Coordinator Workshop is offered once per year in conjunction with the Spring Group Meeting.

Hope Foundation/Ortho Biotech Young Investigator Training Course
The Hope Foundation/Ortho Biotech Young Investigator Training Course is a newly created, innovative program designed to foster the role of young clinical investigators beginning a career in cancer clinical trials. This two week intensive training program, held one week at the Statistical Center and one week at the Operations Office, is designed to familiarize young investigators with statistical principles, data collection and analysis, critical decision making within the Group, protocol development and related issues, and other Group procedures. This training course is held for four investigators twice a year.

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Cooperative Education Program/Internships
CRAB is a participating employer in Seattle Central Community College's Cooperative Education Program. This program offers SCCC students the opportunity to augment their coursework with real-world experience. Recently, CRAB's Co-op employee was involved in transitioning the Web site and membership activities for the Western North American Region of the International Biometric Society to CRAB. Under the aegis of the Technology Access Foundation, CRAB offers high school students a 10-week paid summer internship position. Our current intern is helping to program application code for therapeutic clinical trials activities in conjunction with the SWOG Web site.

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