Systems Engineering Research and the

Cancer Care Engineering Project

Joseph F. Pekny, Ph. D. (Purdue University)

Professor of Chemical Engineering

Interim Head of Industrial Engineering

Cancer Care EngineeringProject Leads:Pat Loehrer, MDKenneth Wiseman Professor of MedicineDirector, IU Simon Cancer CenterAssociate Dean of Cancer ResearchIndiana University School of Medicine

Joe Pekny, PhDProfessor of Chemical EngineeringInterim Department Chair, Industrial EngineeringFounder, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare EngineeringPurdue University

Marietta Harrison, PhDProfessor of Medicinal ChemistryAssociate Vice President for ResearchDirector, Oncological Sciences CenterPurdue University

Notre Dame Joins CCE

Project Funding

• U.S. Army Medical and Materiel Command – $2.3M– Negotiating additional award

• Regenstrief Foundation– $1.35M

• Walther Cancer Foundation– $1.8M

• NIH (2) and DoD (1) pending

Opportunity: Further Systematizing Cancer Care Innovation

Thousands of Journal Articles, Best Practices,

Landmark Studies, Rapid IT Advances, Large Amounts of Data,

Systems Biology, Golden Age of Life Science

Breakthrough Cures, Uneven Care, “Miracle” Patients, Policy Needs, Ongoing Opportunity for Reality to Research and

Back

Cancer Care Engineering

Science & Technology Cancer Care Practice

“We want to know with certainty whether the treatment protocol for a young, non-smoking

mother of 3 with colon cancer will work. Today we can only tell her in terms of percentages the potential treatment effectiveness. The monthly cost is in the tens of thousands and may not be

effective for her. We order it and hope.”

Goal• Needs Better Tool Now• Needs Way to Rapidly Improve Tools

Going Forward by Applying More, Advancing, and Targeting Science and Technology

CCE Summary: Processing Samples, in Position to Develop First Generation Pilot Tools

Prevention & Treatment: Sample Acquisition & Analysis

(Colorectal Cancer): Patient Subgroups

CCE Component in Progress

Personalizing Cancer Care: The Importance of Patient Groups

Clinical Trials

Phase III

Phase II

Phase I

Drug X

Clinical Trials

Phase III

Phase II

Phase I

Clinical Trials

Phase III

Phase II

Phase I

Clinical Trials

Phase III

Phase II

Phase I

Clinical Trials

Phase III

Phase II

Phase I

On which patient groups does Drug X work?

Patient groups are indistinguishable with respect to treatment

What dosage is best?