The Society for Neuro-Oncology is pleased to announce the 8th Annual Clinical Trial Design and Protocol Development Workshop will be held in person on Wednesday, November 11, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just prior to the SNO Annual Meeting and Education Day.

Overview

Effective neuro-oncology treatment that encompasses both primary benign and malignant CNS tumors and metastatic CNS tumors remains a largely unmet clinical need with poor prognosis for many patients despite aggressive treatment with standard modalities (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy). Increased availability of and participation in well-designed clinical trials in neuro-oncology is vital for establishing new, effective treatments for CNS tumor patients. This course will emphasize communication across multi-disciplinary teams and provide foundational didactic background knowledge and unique mentored clinical trial design opportunities. This will also allow for collaboration between new and emerging investigators leading neuro-oncology clinical trials and members of the clinical research team to expand the number and quality of clinical trials available to patients with CNS tumors.

Participants are able to collect CME credit. Those in the Clinical Research/Allied Health group will receive a certificate of participation and will need to check with their state licensing board and specialty certification board to determine how to apply CME credit to their license and certification.

The 2026 workshop offers three participation options:

• Clinical Research, Part 1 provides an introduction to protocol development for participants without prior experience writing a clinical trial protocol or conducting clinical research. (see eligibility below)
• Intended for trainees or junior faculty who have no prior experience writing clinical trial protocols or conducting clinical trials.
• Uses lectures and small-group breakout sessions guided by faculty mentors to familiarize participants with the basic elements of developing a clinical trial protocol.
• Applicants do not need to have a specific clinical trial concept in mind when applying to the workshop. However, following acceptance to the workshop, participants will be expected to provide a Letter of Intent (LOI) to be discussed at the workshop using a supplied template.
• Viewing pre-recorded educational material is required before submitting a draft LOI before the workshop.
• Participants in Clinical Research, Part 1 will be encouraged to apply for Clinical Research, Part 2 in 2026.
• Clinical Research, Part 2 addresses the essentials of effective clinical trial design in the treatment of CNS malignancies and focuses on small group mentoring to provide tailored feedback to the participants. The overall objective is to provide guidance about the design, activation and conduct of clinical trials in neuro-oncology. These trials can span the adult and pediatric population and involve multidisciplinary modalities of treatment as well as non-therapeutic interventions related to biomarkers and quality of life. (see eligibility below)
• This educational offering is intended for trainees or junior faculty who 1) already have a basic understanding of the key elements of clinical trial design and protocol writing and 2) have a specific clinical trial concept that they would like to further develop at the workshop.
• Scholars will work closely with their assigned mentors, who all have extensive experience in neuro-oncology clinical trials, both before the actual workshop and during small-group breakout sessions at the workshop to develop their concept into an actual clinical trial protocol. There will also be an opportunity for continued mentorship following the workshop.
• Viewing of pre-recorded educational material is required in advance of the workshop.
• Applicants for this group must submit a synopsis of a specific clinical trial proposal with their application.
• Previous Clinical Research, Part 1 participants are encouraged to apply.
• Clinical Research/Allied Health provides an introduction to the basics of neuro-oncology and key aspects of clinical trial activation, conduct and oversight. An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the research team members and the specific considerations for neuro-oncology focused trials will be the emphasis. (see eligibility below)
• Intended for all members of the clinical research team—clinical research coordinators, nurses, physician assistants (PAs), and advanced practice providers.
• Uses lectures and small-group breakout sessions guided by faculty mentors to familiarize participants with the basic elements of neuro-oncology and the development and management of a clinical trial protocol.
• Viewing of pre-recorded educational material is optional in advance of the Workshop.

A total of up to 85 participants will be selected to attend the workshop through a competitive application process, with up to 30 participants selected for Clinical Research, Part 1, up to 25 participants selected for Clinical Research, Part 2, and up to 30 for Clinical Research/Allied Health. The Course Planning Committee reserves the right to make final Group selections for each participant.

Learning Objectives

After participating in this CME activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe general approaches to clinical trial design (phase 0, 1, 2, 3) in neuro-oncology.
• Summarize common options for inclusion/exclusion criteria as well as primary, secondary, and exploratory outcome measures in neuro-oncology clinical trials and their potential impact on enrollment.
• Explain common statistical designs for clinical trials in neuro-oncology.
• Outline the clinical trial pre-activation and post-activation tasks for efficient conduct and analysis of studies.

Eligibility Criteria

For Clinical Research, Part 1 and Part 2: Participation in the course is through a competitive application process and is open to clinical fellows, and junior clinical faculty (faculty must be within 7 years from first appointment) from all neuro-oncology subspecialties (neuro-oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, neurosurgery, pediatric oncology). Applications will also be considered from residents in neurology, radiation oncology, neurosurgery, internal medicine, and pediatrics if there is strong interest in a career in neuro-oncology. For Clinical Research, Part 1, PhDs working within clinical trials may also apply if they are working with a clinical mentor or collaborator. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to submit applications. SNO membership (Full or Trainee Level) is required.

For Clinical Research/Allied Health: Participation in the course is through a competitive application process and is open to research personnel (Clinical Research Coordinators, Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurses) from all neuro-oncology subspecialties (neuro-oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, neurosurgery, pediatric oncology). Applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to submit applications. SNO membership (Full or Trainee Level) is NOT required.

Please note, this is a one-time opportunity. Past scholars may not repeat participation in the same group.

Workshop Application Procedure

The online application requires the following items to be received by the application deadline of May 15, 2026:

• Statement of interest explaining why you wish to participate in this course – All applicants
• Letter of support from your Program Supervisor or Department Head – All applicants
• Your personal CV (pdf) – Clinical Research, Part 1 and Part 2 applicants only
• Brief clinical trial concept – Clinical Research, Part 2 applicants only

To apply, click here.

Notification of acceptance will be sent by early June.

Registration

Workshop registration will be open to all accepted applicants in July at $155 USD.

For any questions, please contact Kris Knight, kris@soc-neuro-onc.org.

Scholarship Opportunity for International Applicants

The Society for Neuro-Oncology understands that brain tumors do not recognize geographical boundaries. SNO seeks to promote clinical and research activities in both pediatric and adult neuro-oncology in developing regions of the world. Travel scholarships to attend the 2026 Clinical Trial Design and Protocol Development Workshop will be awarded to three international attendees from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) as defined by the World Bank. For a list of eligible countries, visit the World Bank data page and reference the low-income, lower-middle income, and upper-middle income lists.

In order to be considered for one of the Travel Scholarships, the applicant must meet the following guidelines:

• Work and live outside the United States or Canada
• Be a medical professional with a focus in neuro-oncology
• Has not previously received the scholarship for a past SNO meeting
• Could otherwise not attend without the benefit of a travel scholarship
• Have no visa issues entering the United States or Canada (SNO cannot provide visa assistance other than providing a letter of invitation)
• Complete Application for this 2026 Clinical Trial Design and Protocol Development Workshop

Scholarship recipients will receive: complimentary registration to the Clinical Trial Design and Protocol Development Workshop and the SNO Annual Meeting and Education Day, being held November 11-15, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; hotel accommodations; and a $1,750 stipend to be applied to costs associated with travel to the conference.

Planning Committee

• Maryam Fouladi, Nationwide Children's Hospital
• Karishma Kumar, University of California, San Francisco
• Ian Parney, Mayo Clinic
• Jane Rabbitt, University of California, San Francisco
• Susan Geyer, Mayo Clinic
• Mustafa Khasraw, Duke University
• Patrick Wen, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute