One of the most significant changes is the appointment of Dr. Vinai Gondi as the Chair of the NRG Brain Tumor Committee, effective March 1, 2026. Dr. Gondi, a renowned radiation oncologist and clinician-scientist, specializes in brain tumors, including primary and metastatic lesions. His innovative work on hippocampal avoidance during whole-brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) has revolutionized neuro-oncological treatments by minimizing cognitive decline, a common side effect of conventional brain radiation. This technique, tested in landmark clinical trials such as RTOG 0933 and NRG-CC001, exemplifies how precise targeting in radiation oncology can preserve neurological function without compromising tumor control.

Dr. Gondi’s role as Service Line Director of Radiation Oncology at Northwestern Medicine’s Proton Center showcases his expertise in proton therapy, an advanced modality that uses charged particles to deliver radiation with high precision, sparing healthy tissue and reducing toxicity. His leadership in NCI-sponsored phase II and III trials has advanced understanding of both survival benefits and neurocognitive outcomes in brain tumor patients, underscoring the critical balance between therapeutic effectiveness and quality of life. His contributions have also influenced national guidelines through major professional societies including ASTRO, ASCO, and SNO, making him a cornerstone figure in neuro-oncology.

Assuming the Chair position of the NRG Ancillary Projects Committee is Dr. Bridget Koontz, effective November 1, 2025. Dr. Koontz is a distinguished radiation oncologist whose research focuses on genitourinary malignancies, particularly prostate cancer. Her investigations into radiation-induced erectile dysfunction have provided vital insights into minimizing treatment-related toxicity while preserving sexual function, an area of growing importance given the long survivorship of prostate cancer patients. Moreover, she has been at the forefront of research into novel radiopharmaceuticals and the therapeutic challenge of oligometastatic prostate cancer, influencing national clinical trial designs and protocols.

Dr. Koontz’s leadership experience encompasses roles as Medical Director at AdventHealth Cancer Institute and former Chief Medical Officer at GenesisCare USA, highlighting her operational and clinical expertise in radiation oncology services. As Principal Investigator of the ongoing NRG-GU011 “NRG PROMETHEAN” trial, she steers efforts to optimize radiotherapy in patients with limited metastatic disease. Her role embodies the integration of clinical leadership with cutting-edge research aimed at refining personalized cancer therapy.

Dr. Priya Rastogi is set to take the helm as Chair of the NRG Breast Cancer Committee starting March 1, 2026. A professor at the University of Pittsburgh and chief executive of the NSABP Foundation, Dr. Rastogi brings over two decades of experience in medical oncology with a focus on early-stage breast cancer treatment. Her leadership in Phase II and III trials has been instrumental in the adoption of therapies such as trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer and abemaciclib for hormone receptor-positive disease, therapies that have significantly improved survival outcomes.

Her extensive involvement with international research organizations and steering committees reflects her influence on shaping clinical trial design and guidelines. Dr. Rastogi’s dual role as a clinician and researcher allows her to bridge the gap between laboratory research and bedside applications. Her presence on the NRG Board of Directors and auxiliary committees further exemplifies her commitment to fostering translational research that prioritizes patient-centered outcomes.

The appointment of Lisa Lenrow, MBA, as Vice Chair of the NRG Patient Advocate Committee marks an important infusion of patient-centered leadership into the organization. With over 25 years of expertise in biopharmaceutical marketing and patient engagement strategies, Ms. Lenrow’s unique perspective as both a strategic consultant and a caregiver to a brain tumor patient provides her with unparalleled insight into patient advocacy. Her involvement with organizations such as the National Brain Tumor Society and institutional review boards ensures that patient voices are integral to clinical research design and implementation.

Ms. Lenrow’s work extends beyond traditional marketing into health policy, grant review, and public advocacy, demonstrating the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in oncology research. Her contributions help balance scientific pursuits with the lived realities of patients and caregivers, an essential element in enhancing clinical trial accessibility and relevance.

These leadership transitions reflect NRG Oncology’s strategic emphasis on integrating cutting-edge scientific research with patient-centered care delivery. The incoming chairs bring expertise in radiation oncology, medical oncology, translational research, and advocacy, positioning the organization to tackle complex problems in cancer therapy—from neurocognitive preservation in brain tumors to minimizing toxicity in genitourinary cancers, and improving survival in breast cancer.

The outgoing leaders—Dr. Minesh Mehta (Brain Tumor), Dr. Eleftherios ‘Terry’ Mamounas (Breast Cancer), and Dr. Steven Waggoner (Ancillary Projects)—have left a lasting legacy in shaping the committees’ robust research frameworks. Their dedication fostered pivotal clinical trials and collaborative networks that continue to underpin NRG Oncology’s mission.

NRG Oncology remains at the forefront of oncology research as a multi-institutional network conducting translational and clinical studies that directly impact standards of care. Founded in 2012 through the consolidation of the NSABP, RTOG, and GOG programs, NRG brings together a multidisciplinary team spanning medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, physicists, pathologists, and statisticians across more than 1,300 sites worldwide. This comprehensive network facilitates the development of gender-specific and locality-driven cancer interventions, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of treatments.

The evolving leadership will harness this extensive infrastructure, pushing forward investigations with practical clinical endpoints such as survival, toxicity reduction, and quality of life improvements. Their work exemplifies the translation of scientific discovery into tangible benefits for cancer patients and exemplifies the promise of collaborative, multi-center clinical trials under the aegis of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network.

As these leaders assume their new roles, NRG Oncology’s trajectory towards groundbreaking cancer research and patient-centric innovation is assured. These developments signal exciting advancements for oncology professionals, researchers, and patients globally, fueling hope for more effective, less toxic treatment paradigms in the years to come.

Subject of Research: Leadership changes in oncology research committees; advancements in brain tumor, genitourinary, and breast cancer clinical trials; patient advocacy in cancer research.

Article Title: Transforming Cancer Care: NRG Oncology’s New Leadership Poised to Advance Clinical Research and Patient Outcomes

News Publication Date: Not specified within the provided content.

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

Keywords: Cancer research, Clinical research, Brain tumor, Neuro-oncology, Radiation oncology, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Clinical trials, Patient advocacy, National Cancer Institute, Neurocognitive outcomes, Radiopharmaceuticals

Tambre Leighn has been elevated to Chair of the NRG Patient Advocate Committee (PAC), building on her prior role as the committee’s Vice Chair. Ms. Leighn’s leadership across multiple committees within NRG Oncology, including the Cancer Care Delivery Research and Communications Committees, underscores her multifaceted contributions to the organization. Her professional background as a communications consultant, combined with her deeply personal mission stemming from founding her own firm, Well Beyond Ordinary, equips her uniquely to champion enhanced patient communication and engagement within oncology clinical trials.

In her new capacity as Chair, Ms. Leighn’s primary focus will be on expanding the reach and impact of the PAC within NRG’s expansive research network, which spans over a thousand sites internationally. By fostering collaboration between patient advocates and clinical researchers, she aims to refine trial protocols to better reflect patient needs, increase trial adherence, and optimize outcome measures. Her approach leans heavily on coaching-based interventions designed to empower patients, enhancing communication strategies that address adherence barriers and foster meaningful participation.

Working closely with Vice Chair Marlyn Molero, Ms. Leighn is spearheading initiatives to develop educational frameworks that systematically integrate patient advocacy into every stage of study design, execution, and publication. These efforts signal a transformative shift, positioning patients not merely as subjects of research but as active partners who can shape scientific inquiry and its translations into real-world clinical benefit.

While NRG Oncology continues to solicit applications for the now-vacant Vice Chair role on the PAC, these leadership shifts occur amid a burgeoning emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. The integration of patient advocacy within a research network focused on practice-changing oncology trials epitomizes a model where patient insights serve as catalysts for innovation, translational science, and personalized care strategies.

Simultaneously, Dr. Chris Holsinger has been appointed Surgical Vice Chair of the NRG Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Committee and Chair of the NRG Head and Neck Surgery Working Group. Dr. Holsinger’s tenure with NRG Oncology exceeds two decades, marked by a consistent role in advancing surgical oncology research, particularly through his leadership in pivotal trials such as RTOG 0920, RTOG 1221, and ECOG 3311.

His contributions to surgical trial methodology are notable for pioneering prospective surgeon credentialing programs and ongoing quality assurance mechanisms. These innovative frameworks ensure surgical standardization and expertise across multiple collaborative group trials, which is critical in minimizing variability that might confound clinical outcomes in head and neck oncology studies. Dr. Holsinger’s dual role as an academic surgical oncologist and committee leader situates him as a key figure driving both scientific rigor and clinical relevance within the surgical research arena.

At Stanford University, where he serves as a professor and former Division Chief in the Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Holsinger continues to intersect clinical practice, surgical robotics research, and artificial intelligence initiatives. His research portfolio reflects modern trends in precision surgical oncology, emphasizing the integration of technology-driven approaches to improve operative outcomes and multidisciplinary coordination in cancer care delivery.

Within NRG’s evolving leadership structure, Dr. Holsinger will collaborate with Committee Chair Dr. Sue Yom and Vice Chairs Drs. Stuart Wong and Neil Hayes to strategically expand the head and neck cancer research portfolio. This encompasses refining surgical trial design, enhancing data collection, and promoting surgeon engagement in the broader cooperative group context, further bridging subspecialty expertise with translational oncology.

These leadership appointments reinforce NRG Oncology’s foundational mission: to conduct multi-institutional, practice-changing clinical and translational research across a spectrum of adult cancers. Built upon the legacies of iconic trials groups including NSABP, RTOG, and GOG, the organization leverages a vast network of multidisciplinary investigators—medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, physicists, statisticians, and more. The breadth and depth of this collaborative infrastructure enable the conduct of complex, large-scale studies that inform standards of care globally.

Funding and infrastructure support from the National Cancer Institute empower NRG Oncology to design and execute clinical trials with specific emphases, such as gender-specific malignancies and localized or locally advanced tumors. The group’s integrated approach acknowledges the heterogeneity of cancer biology and patient populations, necessitating nuanced trial designs informed by highly engaged leadership in both patient advocacy and surgical innovation.

Ultimately, the appointments of Ms. Leighn and Dr. Holsinger symbolize a synergistic advancement for NRG Oncology, promoting pathways where patient-centered communication strategies and cutting-edge surgical research converge. As personalized oncology continues to evolve, such leadership ensures that multidisciplinary teams address not only the biological complexities of cancer but also the human elements essential to translating research into tangible improvements in patient outcomes.

NRG Oncology’s open call for leadership roles signals the ongoing opportunity for experts and advocates to shape the future directions of clinical trials research. Their commitment to transparent, inclusive, and innovative governance remains a cornerstone of their strategy to accelerate discoveries that revolutionize cancer treatment paradigms worldwide.

Subject of Research: Leadership appointments in clinical research committees focused on patient advocacy and surgical oncology within NRG Oncology.

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

Keywords: NRG Oncology, patient advocate leadership, surgical oncology, head and neck cancer, clinical trials, cancer research, patient-centered research, surgical credentialing, multidisciplinary oncology, translational research, National Cancer Institute, NCTN.