Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Urology, has been selected to chair the National Cancer Institute’s Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) Prostate/GU Cancer Collaborative.
The EDRN, a consortium of more than 300 investigators and clinicians spanning academic institutions and the private sector, has a mission to discover, develop and validate biomarkers and imaging methods to detect early-stage cancers, assess risk for developing cancer, and translate these tools into clinical tests.
Within the EDRN there are four organ-specific collaborative groups: Prostate and Other GU Cancers, Breast and Gynecologic Cancers, Colorectal and Other GI Cancers, and Lung and Upper Aerodigestive Cancers.
Tosoian will serve a three-year term as chair of the Prostate/GU Cancer Collaborative, ending in August 2027.
“It’s a uniquely diverse group of researchers with expertise spanning laboratory science, imaging and clinical medicine,” Tosoian said. “Every member is focused on improving early detection of aggressive prostate cancers while at a treatable stage.”
Tosoian notes that the ability to conceive, develop and validate a new urine-based test for high-grade prostate cancer in a few-years time frame — and make the test available to patients — was only possible because of the EDRN.
“The group has been incredibly productive to this point,” Tosoian said. “The only goal now is to continue putting everyone in the best possible position to have an impact against prostate cancer through their work. That means facilitating teamwork and collaboration… and continuing to take advantage of the invaluable resources available through the EDRN.”
Department of Urology chair David Penson, MD, MPH, said Tosoian is one of the foremost experts on prostate cancer biomarkers in the world.
“He is the perfect person to lead this important group,” said Penson, the Paul V. Hamilton, MD, and Virginia E. Howd Professor of Urologic Oncology. “We’re lucky to have him on faculty here at Vanderbilt.”
