The Department is pleased to announce that Gregory Friedman, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been appointed the new Phase 1 PI at Children's of Alabama and approved by the DVL Executive Committee of the Children’s Oncology Group effective June 18. In addition, Dr. Friedman will lead Developmental Therapeutics in the Division of Hematology-Oncology and the Department of Pediatrics.
 
Clinical trials follow a typical series from early, small-scale, Phase 1 studies, which may be the first in human trials to assess safety, to late-stage, large scale, Phase 3 studies. Phase 1 studies are the first step in clinical drug development after pre-clinical studies are complete. Patients referred to the Developmental Therapeutics Program typically have recurrent or refractory cancers that have failed standard therapies. Other patients may be diagnosed with rare tumors for which no effective therapies have been established. As one of only 21 premier pediatric oncology programs in the country that are selected through peer review by the Children’s Oncology Group Phase 1 and Pilot Consortium, we are able to provide patients access to innovative therapies not widely available. 
 
Dr. Friedman’s research focuses on improving outcomes for children with malignant brain tumors. His goal is to develop and improve targeted immunotherapeutics such as oncolytic engineered herpes simplex virotherapy and then translate these therapies to clinical trials, benefiting children with brain tumors and other solid tumors. Dr. Friedman has received funding from the FDA and St. Baldrick’s Foundation for these Phase 1 studies.
 
Dr. Friedman is a nationally known scholar who has demonstrated clinical, teaching and research success at UAB and Children’s of Alabama. In addition to providing specific leadership for this program, he will also participate as part of the leadership team for a growing division of Hematology-Oncology. The Division has added 7 new faculty in the last three years and four more will join this summer.