The appointments reflect the increasingly integrated nature of modern oncology research, in which laboratory discoveries, clinical trial design, pharmacy operations, patient safety, data management, and professional development must function as a single system. NRG Oncology is part of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network and coordinates multicenter studies across more than 1,300 research sites worldwide, with a major focus on breast, gynecologic, prostate, and other localized or locally advanced cancers.

Rebecca Arend, MD, MPH, has been appointed Gynecology Oncologist Vice Chair of the NRG Translational Science Committee. A gynecologic oncologist, surgeon-scientist, and clinical trial leader, Arend studies how molecular features of cancer can be converted into more precise methods of screening, prognosis, and treatment selection. Her work includes DNA, RNA, protein, and circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, a form of genetic material released by tumors into the bloodstream that can provide a minimally invasive view of cancer biology.

Arend’s research is especially focused on ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and other gynecologic cancers, diseases in which tumors can vary substantially at the molecular level even when they arise in the same organ. Biomarker-driven treatment aims to identify those differences and match patients with therapies most likely to work. As Associate Director of Clinical Research at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arend oversees trial infrastructure, protocol development, workforce training, and the integration of translational research into clinical programs. Within NRG, she is Translational Science Chair of the Ovarian Subcommittee under the Gynecologic Cancer Committee and is involved in developing early-career oncology investigators.

Robin Lockhorst, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, has been appointed Chair of the NRG Pharmacy Subcommittee. With more than 15 years of experience at Avera Cancer Institute, Lockhorst has worked across oncology pharmacy, bone marrow transplantation, solid organ transplantation, hepatology, and clinical research. She currently serves as Director of Clinical Research, Oncology, where she is expanding satellite research programs and helping build early-phase trial capabilities across the Great Plains region.

Pharmacy leadership is central to the safe delivery of experimental cancer treatments. Clinical pharmacists review protocols, manage investigational drug services, verify dosing and drug interactions, and help ensure that treatment is administered according to highly specific study requirements. Lockhorst has led operational improvements in these areas while supporting protocol review and multidisciplinary education. Her work has also included mentoring pharmacy trainees and helping advance South Dakota’s drug donation and repository pilot program, an initiative designed to improve access to eligible medications.

David Miyamoto, MD, PhD, has been appointed Radiation Oncology Vice Chair of the NRG Translational Science Committee. A radiation oncologist and physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, and an Associate Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Miyamoto investigates how molecular testing and advanced imaging can make cancer treatment more predictive. His laboratory research has emphasized liquid biopsies, tumor genomic analysis, and imaging technologies for prostate and bladder cancers.

The goal of this work is to identify biological signals that reveal whether a tumor is responding to treatment, developing resistance, or progressing before those changes become obvious through conventional clinical assessments. Miyamoto has led NIH-funded research involving liquid biopsy and prostate-specific membrane antigen, or PSMA, positron emission tomography imaging in patients receiving Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy. This treatment delivers radiation to cancer cells that express PSMA, and biomarkers may help determine which patients are most likely to benefit. Miyamoto has also served in translational leadership roles on major multicenter studies, including NRG-GU015, ECOG-ACRIN-NRG 8185, and the PARTIQoL trial.

Elena Nelson, MBA, CCRC, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Clinical Research Associate Subcommittee within the NRG Protocol Support Committee. Nelson brings more than 15 years of oncology research experience from the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, where she serves as Data Management and Academic Research Consortium Network Manager. In that role, she leads data operations for approximately 150 trials involving solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, pediatric cancers, and early-phase therapies.

High-quality data are essential to determining whether a treatment is safe and effective. Nelson has developed standardized workflows to improve the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of trial information, including data submitted for NCI-sponsored and experimental therapeutics studies. She is also a RECIST subject matter expert. RECIST, or Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, is a standardized system used to measure whether tumors have shrunk, remained stable, or grown during treatment. Nelson has worked with NRG on the RECIST CLASS project and has served as both a member and mentor within the Protocol Support Committee.

Cortney Montgomery, MD, MHSc, has been appointed Vice Chair of the NRG Protocol Support Committee Mentorship Subcommittee. With more than 25 years of experience in oncology research nursing and clinical trial coordination, Montgomery has worked in academic medical centers, comprehensive cancer centers, and direct patient-care settings. At UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, she serves as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Treatment Nurse, managing patient screening, informed consent, investigational drug administration, chemotherapy delivery, and protocol compliance while helping establish a new Clinical Translational Research Center.

Montgomery has coordinated Phase I through Phase IV studies, including industry-sponsored, cooperative group, and investigator-initiated trials. Her clinical research experience spans breast cancer, gynecologic oncology, and early-phase therapeutics, where careful monitoring is particularly important because experimental treatments may involve uncertain dosing, novel mechanisms, or previously unrecognized toxicities. She has also contributed to clinical trial awareness and outreach through the Carol Glock Foundation and has served NRG as a committee member, mentor, and liaison to the Breast Cancer Committee and Uterine Corpus Cancer Subcommittee.

Together, the appointments highlight how cancer research increasingly depends on collaboration across disciplines rather than on isolated discoveries. Biomarker scientists need reliable clinical samples and high-quality datasets; radiation and medical oncologists require pharmacy systems capable of delivering complex therapies; and clinical research teams need experienced mentors to sustain the workforce behind multicenter trials. NRG Oncology said the new leaders will help advance its research while continuing the contributions of outgoing vice chairs. Current committee leadership and member openings are listed on the organization’s website.

Subject of Research: Leadership changes in a major oncology clinical trials network, with emphasis on translational cancer research, biomarkers, pharmacy operations, clinical trial data management, and research mentorship.

Article Title: NRG Oncology Appoints New Leaders to Advance Precision Cancer Research and Clinical Trials

Web References: https://www.nrgoncology.org/Current-Openings ; https://www.nrgoncology.org

References: NRG Oncology leadership announcement and organizational information provided in the source material.

Keywords: NRG Oncology, cancer research, clinical trials, translational science, biomarkers, circulating tumor DNA, liquid biopsy, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, pharmacy research, RECIST, precision medicine, oncology leadership, clinical research mentorship

Dr. Guida’s new role positions her at the helm of the Alliance’s growing clinical research portfolio, particularly focusing on investigator-initiated studies that translate cutting-edge laboratory findings into tangible patient therapies including novel drugs, devices, and procedural innovations. This internal focus reflects a strategic shift at the HonorHealth Research Institute—from primarily conducting externally derived clinical trials to fostering homegrown scientific discovery. The division she leads is tasked with ensuring robust coordination that maintains scientific rigor and operational excellence throughout the study lifecycle.

The establishment of the Division of Institutional Research coincides with the Institute’s broader organizational expansion, including new research arms such as the Center for Translational Medicine and Divisions dedicated to Precision Medicine, Longevity, Prevention, and Interception, as well as an emerging Behavioral Health program. These branches are designed to explore and exploit novel biomedical insights, moving them rapidly from bench to bedside. Dr. Guida’s role is critical in harmonizing these varied initiatives to create a cohesive, efficient, and high-impact research ecosystem within HonorHealth.

Central to Dr. Guida’s leadership is her capacity to integrate scientific rigor with operational strategy, honed during her tenure at NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. There, she managed complex multi-institutional research programs that addressed cancer epidemiology and survivorship—a scientific depth she is poised to translate into impactful clinical advances at HonorHealth. The emphasis is on seamless sponsor oversight and support service deployment that enable investigators to initiate, conduct, and complete trials with consistency and reliability.

Historically, the HonorHealth Research Institute has conducted clinical trials based primarily on externally sourced therapeutic interventions, often through collaborations with biotechnology entities and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Dr. Guida’s appointment signals a transformative phase: enabling internal scientific innovation to generate original technologies and interventions that can propel the institute into a leadership role in clinical discovery and implementation. This internalization supports the goal of accelerating translational medicine and personalized healthcare.

Among the strategic partnerships that underpin these advances is the Institute’s enhanced collaboration with Arizona State University’s recently established John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering, as well as the ongoing scholarly relationships with the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine – Phoenix. Through these academic alliances, Dr. Guida’s division will serve as a research nexus, providing vital infrastructure and expertise to investigators across this expanding network to ensure rapid and efficient trial launches and progression.

Dr. Guida’s robust academic background lays a solid foundation for her impactful work. Holding a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Maryland, with pre- and post-doctoral fellowships completed at NCI, she combines deep expertise in population health sciences and clinical research design. Additionally, her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Colorado complements a holistic understanding of disease patterns critical to translational and precision medicine.

Notably, Dr. Guida has deep roots in Arizona, having grown up in Cave Creek and earned her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Arizona State University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Over the course of her career, she has been recognized extensively for her contributions, authoring more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, including first-author papers in high-impact journals such as Nature Cancer and JAMA Oncology. Her work has been widely cited, exceeding 1,500 citations, highlighting her influential role in the scientific community.

Her research interests extend beyond traditional epidemiology to focus on improving healthspan and longevity, particularly among cancer survivors and their families. This passion aligns well with HonorHealth’s commitment to advancing survivorship research and developing new interventions to reduce long-term morbidity associated with cancer treatment. By integrating these priorities into the Institute’s strategic research agenda, Dr. Guida is fostering an innovative environment that addresses critical gaps in chronic disease management.

The integration of Dr. Guida’s scientific and leadership acumen is being heralded as a significant investment in the Institute’s future research capabilities. Chad Adams, MPH, Chief Operating Officer of the HonorHealth Research Institute, emphasized that her addition signals a new phase of growth oriented toward increasing the Institute’s capacity to generate proprietary scientific insights and shepherd them through regulatory and commercial pathways. This leadership will be instrumental in accelerating the translation of discoveries into approved therapies that directly benefit patients.

Under Dr. Guida’s stewardship, the Division of Institutional Research is positioned to offer a comprehensive suite of support services including study design consultation, regulatory compliance oversight, data management, and operational logistics. This infrastructure is designed to empower investigators to efficiently navigate the increasingly complex clinical research regulatory environment while upholding the highest standards of scientific rigor. Her team will also facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration, ensuring that innovative ideas have access to the resources necessary for successful clinical translation.

The HonorHealth Research Institute’s vision, as exemplified by this strategic appointment, is to become a global leader in clinical trials that merge scientific innovation with patient-centered care. By enabling investigator-initiated studies and enhancing internal research capabilities, the Institute is charting a forward-looking path where novel diagnostics, therapies, and prevention strategies are rapidly developed and disseminated. This evolution reflects a broader trend in medical research toward integrated, translational approaches that directly address unmet clinical needs.

For patients and healthcare providers, the expansion of the HonorHealth Research Institute’s clinical trial program means increased access to cutting-edge treatments that leverage the Institute’s growing scientific expertise. Dr. Guida’s division will ensure that studies conducted within HonorHealth and its partner networks maintain a high degree of integrity and patient safety, facilitating patient participation in trials that could offer life-altering benefits. This commitment to excellence in research is expected to elevate the Institute’s profile as a premier destination for clinical investigation.

To learn more about ongoing or upcoming clinical trials at the HonorHealth Research Institute, interested parties are encouraged to reach out via phone at 833-354-6667 or email at clinicaltrials@HonorHealth.com. The institute remains dedicated to fostering transparency and engagement with the community, providing up-to-date information on opportunities for participation in research that is shaping the future of medicine.

Subject of Research: People

Article Title: HonorHealth Research Institute Appoints Dr. Jennifer Guida to Lead New Division of Institutional Research, Advancing Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials

News Publication Date: June 9, 2026

Web References: www.honorhealthresearch.org

Keywords: Clinical trials, investigator-initiated research, translational medicine, precision medicine, epidemiology, cancer survivorship, clinical research infrastructure, novel therapeutics, NIH, National Cancer Institute