VCU news

By Danielle Pierce

Nolan Wages, Ph.D., a professor in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Biostatistics in the School of Population Health, has been named a fellow of the Society for Clinical Trials.

This prestigious designation, introduced in 2005, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of clinical trials and have shown exemplary service to the SCT. Wages has dedicated his career to advancing the design and execution of early phase clinical trials in oncology, with a focus on bridging the gap between statistical methodology and clinical practice. He is director of the Biostatistics Shared Resource for VCU’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Created in 1978, the SCT is an international organization whose membership spans disciplines including biostatistics, clinical areas, IT and systems, data management, ethics, regulatory affairs, behavioral science, research coordination, patient partnerships and health outcomes researchers.

For more than a decade, Wages has been deeply involved in a national research effort aimed at revolutionizing how early phase oncology trials are conducted. His team has not only developed novel methods but also ensured their successful implementation into actual trials, where they can improve patient outcomes. This has involved close collaboration with clinicians and other researchers to ensure that their methods meet the rigorous standards of the field while remaining practical and applicable in clinical settings.

“Being selected as a fellow of the Society for Clinical Trials holds profound personal and professional significance for me,” Wages said. “It represents the culmination of years of dedication, hard work and collaboration in the field of clinical trials. This honor is not just a recognition of my individual achievements, but it also acknowledges the collective efforts of my colleagues and collaborators who have supported and contributed to our shared mission of advancing the principles and practice of clinical trials.”

The SCT fellowship is awarded annually to a select group of members at the society’s annual meeting. This year, five professionals were honored with the title, bringing the number of SCT fellows to 142 since the program’s inception. The rigorous selection process evaluates candidates on their contributions to critical areas of clinical trials.

“Dr. Wages has been a member of the Society for Clinical Trials for 13 years, volunteering his time to the student scholarship committee, pre-conference workshops,  webinars and as an associate editor to the ’society’s journal,” said Christopher Coffey, chair of the SCT Fellows Committee (2023-2024). “He is a leader in developing and implementing novel statistical methods for early phase clinical trials in oncology, a recognized teacher and mentor, and an outstanding collaborator.”

As Wages joins the ranks of SCT fellows, he continues to inspire colleagues and the broader medical community. His achievements reflect the core values and mission of the society.

“Being selected as an SCT fellow is not just an accolade,” he said. “It’s a reflection of my commitment to advancing the field of clinical trials and a reminder of the importance of collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts in achieving meaningful progress in clinical research.”