ROCHESTER — In a move that will improve efficiency and collaboration in cancer research, Mayo biostatistician Daniel Sargent, Ph.D., will become director of the Statistical Center for the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), a national association of cancer researchers funded primarily by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

In his new position, Dr. Sargent will be integrating statistical, data management and information technology functions at Duke University with those of two NCI-funded groups already coordinated by Mayo Clinic – the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) and the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG).

As center director, Dr. Sargent will assume the role of principal investigator on the NCI grant that provides in excess of $5 million annually to operate the CALGB Statistical Center. He also will direct 90 staff, at both Duke and Mayo, who are conducting NCI-funded research. Using the same research systems for all three research groups will naturally reduce the redundancy in research efforts that would have happened without collaboration.

“We fully support Dr. Sargent in this ambitious, but achievable plan which will enhance the efficiency and quality of research for the NCCTG,” says Jan Buckner, M.D., Mayo Clinic, chair of the NCCTG.

Dr. Sargent, professor of both biostatistics and oncology at the Mayo Clinic, has led the cancer statistics group at Mayo for the last 10 years.