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?