Implementation Science Curriculum for Oncologists and Trainees in Low-Income Countries

Purpose: Few cancer therapeutic clinical trials have been conducted in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). As the global oncology community works to address this gap, it’s vital to incorporate implementation outcomes—and train future oncologists to do so—alongside traditional efficacy outcomes. This maximizes the impact of cancer research by delivering two complementary outcomes: efficacy and implementability. This study identified barriers to implementing cancer clinical trials in LMICs and determined core competencies essential for training global oncology clinical trialists. Methods: In fall 2024, participants at the Global Oncology Symposium at WashU were invited to participate in a ½ day workshop to explore the core components of an implementation science (IS) curriculum for global oncology practitioners and trainees. 30 participants (trainees (13), faculty/mentors (12), staff (3), donors (1), and policymakers (1) from the US and LMICs) engaged in structured activities. Small groups of 5–6 participants generated insights on barriers to implementing clinical trials in LMICs. These insights were organized into common themes for large group discussion. Building on these themes, participants brainstormed competencies or skills necessary to overcome these barriers. Responses were recorded on sticky notes, categorized into overarching themes, and summarized as core components of a global oncology IS curriculum. Results: Key barriers to implementing cancer clinical trials in LMICs were grouped into the following themes: navigating regulations & bureaucracy, building partnerships, and managing resources and logistics. Participants identified 7 core competencies that should be included in a global oncology IS curriculum: 1) Flexible and open mindset 2) Technical skills and interdisciplinary knowledge 3) Community engagement 4) Skills to build and maintain partnerships 5) Designing for sustainability 6) Regulatory affairs and 7) Political engagement and advocacy. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of an interdisciplinary and culturally sensitive approach to global oncology IS training. A curriculum grounded in the identified competencies can equip global oncologists to design and execute effective and implementable clinical trials, ultimately improving cancer care delivery worldwide. Future efforts should build on this work to develop, systematically pilot, and refine a comprehensive curriculum for global oncology training programs. Citation Format: Thomas Odeny, Betsy Abente, Ellis Ballard, Sara Malone, Rachel Matsumoto, Patti Gravitt. Designing the Future: An Implementation Science Curriculum for Globally Oriented Oncologists and Trainees [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 87.