CenTrial Logo

Impacting Patients from Diagnosis to Remission

by




Mustafa Sakhi is a gifted clinical specialist currently working for the Thoracic Oncology group at Massachusetts General Hospital. He actively supports clinical trials and continuously strives to contribute to their growth. Mustafa is the perfect example of someone who would be considered extremely hardworking, determined, and perseverant.  

I had the great pleasure of interviewing him, and we talked about his work, interests, and aspirations. With his phenomenal efforts and noteworthy contributions to the growth of clinical trials, he continues to be a source of inspiration for many.

Hi Mustafa. Can you tell me a little about your work experience as a clinical researcher?
Sure. I'm a clinical specialist for the Thoracic Oncology Group at Mass General Hospital. I work with various providers and investigators to help them achieve their research goals. My main Principal Investigator, Dr. Gainor, is the lead on several clinical trials with Pfizer, Moderna, Novartis, The Broad Institute, etc. My current role has changed over the years. I am now more inclined towards data analytics and data mining. I mine clinical data ranging from demographics to survival rates, treatment history, etc. I have co-authored over seven papers, most recently, CANVAX – where we looked at antibody and protein levels for all patients in the Cancer Center who received their Covid Vaccines.

What has your work taught you about the importance of clinical trials?
Projects like CANVAX proved that clinical trials and clinical research have a vital place in the cycle of medicine and its corresponding parts. It has become evident now that every drug and intervention ever invented is backed by scientific knowledge provided by thousands of people who volunteered to participate for clinical trials. If it weren't for the willingness of these people to come forward and sign up for clinical trials, we wouldn't have breakthroughs in medical knowledge, safe drugs, or effective treatment strategies. This invariably would have caused a great many to suffer.

All these medical advancements and new drugs have significantly improved the quality and longevity of life. Death rate has drastically fallen owing to medical achievements in the last half century.

Clinical trials allow us to continue questioning, innovating, and providing more feedback for current drugs and drugs that are coming down the pipeline.

Why do you personally think that clinical trials are important?
One of the many advantages of clinical trials is that they help us analyze what will and will not work in the human body. Unfortunately, as this cannot be done in a lab, there is more emphasis on getting reliable clinical data for clinical trials. As I have been working with data, I know how important it is to get genuine and authentic information from carrying out clinical trials in order for them to lead to valid and meaningful results. Clinical trials are the most important tool to discover new treatments for diseases. They help find new ways to detect, diagnose, and prevent disease.

Why did you choose this field of study?
Honestly, I sort of just landed here while I was doing my Master's Program. I studied Bioengineering which has a ton of research components when it comes to manufacturing and applying new pharma and biotech products.

What was your motivation behind your decision to work as a clinical researcher?
Ultimately I always had a strong sense of helping those in need. After our projects are completed, I feel a real sense of pride especially if our research can show something viable, tangible, and promising! Like our CANVAX project, we enrolled over a thousand patients and completed thorough blood tests throughout three months to fully understand Covid in cancer patients. As a result, we have had a real voice in this pandemic and it’s really cool!

What challenges are you facing as a clinical researcher?
The biggest challenges are honestly all the regulatory stuff. The collection of data, samples, and then analyzing all that is the easy part. Putting together a clinical trial is EXTREMELY time-consuming, costly, and there are so many different moving parts that it’s crucial to make sure that everyone is on the same page. I would say that’s the hardest – making sure we are compliant with all policies that apply to us. A ton of work on the backend to ensure a smooth trial.

What recent breakthroughs are you excited about?
One of my favorite breakthroughs that I read about was during the pandemic – that scientists were able to stimulate ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) growth using grafts. This goes hand in hand with my Master's degree. I specialized in Cell & Tissue Engineering so this was definitely up my alley. The approach involves placing a protein-based sponge prepared with some of the patient’s blood, between the torn ACL ends. The blood promotes the connection of the two ACL pieces to the sponge which ultimately connects them both.

Are you interested in clinical trials near you?

You can receive free notification of a trial for this, or any other condition, by completing a short confidential health profile.
Find a clinical trial near me
So you'd support the notion that clinical trials are a winning step toward medical breakthroughs?
Yes, absolutely!

What are you passionate about, Mustafa?
In my work, it’s definitely the data aspect. I love playing with the data and coming up with various ways to support different theories /hypotheses. I have a Master Database with hundreds of patients with all kinds of info and data one can think of. As a result, it became our data hub and we had data that so many different clinical trials wanted. It became very easy to join multiple projects and get my name on papers. And I do love my interactions with my patients. They come in about every two weeks and I’ve been there for three years now. I’ve built special relationships and have helped everyone in some way whether that was their treatment, dosing, or labs, etc.

Would you like to share any personal experiences that encouraged you to contribute to the growth of clinical trials?
I can’t name names due to patient confidentiality but one of my fav stories is of a woman who had NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) and she was Stage IV. Typically we can’t do much at that point but because of genetic testing we did we were able to produce a medicine specific to her body composition (mRNA vaccines) and she was able to get on immunotherapy. She’s doing great and still comes in once a month for her checkup.

What changes do you see happening?
With Covid, there has been more interest in Bioengineering and Clinical Research. I’d love to see more and more people get involved. It truly helps generations of people.

Considering the risks involved, do you think clinical trials are worth it?
Yes, I do! The pros heavily outweigh the cons, in my opinion.
Clinical trials are an effective way to ensure that the benefits of certain drugs or treatments outweigh the possible risks for most people.

Not all treatments or procedures are approved for clinical trials. Only the most promising ones with minimal risks involved are put forward for experimentation by clinical trials.

What do you do when you're not working? What are your hobbies and interests?
My hobbies and interests include cooking, exercise/healthcare, outdoor activities, sports, writing, traveling, gaming, and I am a big movie junkie.

What brings you the greatest satisfaction in your work?
When we publish! It’s great to see the work we’ve put in come to fruition and it jump-starts real changes in medicine and allows us to better treat our patients (higher survival rates, remission).

What are your plans for 2022?
I plan to start my own pharmaceutical company and begin consulting.

Do you think people are hesitant to participate in clinical trials?  What is the most significant reason for this, in your opinion?
I think people are but not because they are scared - they just think it’s pointless and they wonder “how will I actually help?” The same view as for voting, that is, thinking that my vote doesn’t really count. This lack of confidence on part of these people keeps them from participating in clinical trials or even promoting them. They either don’t seem to grasp the importance of clinical trials, or consider it a futile or purposeless attempt to increase medical knowledge.

Would you like to give some advice to people who are fearful of participating in clinical trials?
My advice is to do their research on the clinical trials - there’s a ton that goes into it, and don't forget to ask questions! It’s our job to keep you well informed and safe.
No pain, no gain, right? Well, the same principle applies to clinical trials as well. If we want to live in a medically advanced world that provides numerous possibilities, hopes, and opportunities for living a healthy life, we have to do our bit and step up for the sake of not just our own lives, but for many others.





Share this article with a friend:
     


This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. CenTrial Data Ltd. does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. Treatments and clinical trials mentioned may not be appropriate or available for all trial participants. Outcomes from treatments and clinical trials may vary from person to person. Consult with your doctor as to whether a clinical trial is a suitable option for your condition. Assistance from generative AI tools may have been used in writing this article.