Rammy Khadour helps pave the way for new clinical trials in his critical, behind-the-scenes role at the Cross Cancer Institute
By: Michaela Ream
Clinical trials are an essential step in finding new ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. Equally important is the hope they provide for patients and families by discovering new outcomes and new ways to save lives.
The chance to help improve patient lives is what drew Rammy Khadour, a lead project manager at the Cross Cancer Institute (the Cross), to a career supporting researchers and investigators, providing them with the tools and training they need to run clinical trials successfully. (The Cross’s Clinical Trials Unit is made up of more than 100 people.)
“This role lets me use problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to drive progress on a clinical trial and, on top of that, improve the lives of our patients here and around the world,” says Khadour.
While studying pharmacology as an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, Khadour jumped at the chance to volunteer at a clinic working on clinical trials. Khadour’s role was primarily in data entry for patients in a trial for the drug Xolair, used to treat asthma. But seeing the positive impact of a clinical trial further solidified his interest in pursuing a career in the field.
“One good discovery can save millions of lives,” emphasizes Khadour.
After finishing his undergraduate degree and then earning his master’s in biomedical technology in 2016, Khadour started working for Alberta Health Services as a clinical trial coordinator in 2018. He then became an investigator-initiated trials (IIT) project manager at the Cross’s Clinical Trials Unit in 2019, working as part of a team of project managers. He moved into the IIT lead project manager position in 2022, where he works today.
The Cross’s Clinical Trials Unit helps connect hundreds of cancer patients to cutting-edge therapies. The unit truly punches above its weight: currently, it places more than 600 cancer patients on new drug trials each year. In fact, this recruitment is the highest per capita in Canada. Of the clinical trials it runs, there are industry-sponsored trials (ISTs) and IITs. An IST is funded by pharmaceutical companies who design and own the protocol. IITs are clinical trials proposed by an investigator at a hospital or medical centre. As project lead manager, Khadour is involved in helping bring IITs to life and providing the essential support needed to guide local researchers through the process.
“At the Cross Cancer Institute, we’re in a unique environment where we have the expertise, the resources and the team, so we owe it to our patients to bring it all together and provide them the best we can,” says Khadour.
While he doesn’t see patients on a day-to-day basis, he helps the researchers and clinicians who do. In some cases, the researchers have years of clinical experience and knowledge, but aren’t always sure how to apply their skills to a trial. In those cases, Khadour helps build a road map for running a clinical trial and guides them through the step-by-step process.
His work also entails helping investigators design and run trials. For example, he helps them establish a budget and ensure the trial stays within that budget. He works with federal health regulatory agencies, like Health Canada, to get their approval to run a trial. He helps train the teams involved. Even once a trial is up and running, Khadour stays involved, ensuring the trial runs safely, ethically and within regulatory standards.
“A large part of my work is giving people the confidence to utilize the experience they already have and channel that into a clinical trial,” says Khadour.
Hearing patient success stories makes the work all worthwhile for Khadour. It’s a sentiment that has stayed with him since beginning this work at the Cross. It was Dr. John Mackey, the Clinical Trials Unit director at the time, who told Khadour that the IIT program was the unit’s crown jewel.
“The crown jewel moniker represents the uniqueness of our program and our ability to bring together the various departments and expertise in this building to provide unique clinical trials for our patients with the intention of improving patient care,” says Khadour. “Our in-house trials are the culmination of everybody’s best efforts and dedication to improving cancer treatment.”
Looking forward, Khadour’s main focus is to continue working on his own leadership style by mentoring new staff, improving his project management skills, and helping get more IITs up and running even faster.
“I’m very fortunate and privileged that the progress I’m making here is giving patients new avenues of care and giving them hope,” says Khadour.
