Dr. Polley’s primary research involves the design, conduct, and analysis of all phases of cancer clinical trials. She is the Head of the Statistics Division of NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center (SDMC) as well as the Lead Statistician for the Brain Tumor Committee of NRG Oncology, a National Cancer Institute sponsored member of the national clinical trials network group. Previously, Dr. Polley held positions as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at UCSF, a mathematical statistician in the Biometric Research Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and an Associate Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Polley has nearly two decades of experience as a cancer clinical trial biostatistician. Her statistical methods research has spanned a variety of areas including early-phase clinical trial designs, biomarker reproducibility, innovative group sequential methods for biomarker validation, prognostic and predictive modeling, and design and analysis of biomarker-based clinical trials. Her expertise has led to invitations to influential positions as a statistical advisor including the Federal Advisory Committee of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Scientific Committee of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the Scientific Committee of the CNS Clinical Trials conference, among many others. She has been competitively elected to numerous national scientific governing or advisory bodies including the NCI’s National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Steering Committees for trials in lymphoma and head and neck cancer.
Columbia University
New York, New York
PhD - Biostatistics
2006
Columbia University
New York, New York
MS - Biostatistics
2001
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
MA - Statistics
1999
Leveraging external control data in the design and analysis of neuro-oncology trials: Pearls and perils.
Leveraging external control data in the design and analysis of neuro-oncology trials: Pearls and perils. Neuro Oncol. 2024 05 03; 26(5):796-810.
PMID: 38254183
Targeted gene expression profiling predicts meningioma outcomes and radiotherapy responses.
Targeted gene expression profiling predicts meningioma outcomes and radiotherapy responses. Nat Med. 2023 Dec; 29(12):3067-3076.
PMID: 37944590
NRG/RTOG 0837: Randomized, phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of chemoradiation with or without cediranib in newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
NRG/RTOG 0837: Randomized, phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of chemoradiation with or without cediranib in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Neurooncol Adv. 2023 Jan-Dec; 5(1):vdad116.
PMID: 38024244
Abnormalities on baseline chest imaging are risk factors for immune checkpoint inhibitor associated pneumonitis.
Abnormalities on baseline chest imaging are risk factors for immune checkpoint inhibitor associated pneumonitis. Respir Med. 2023 Oct; 217:107330.
PMID: 37385460
Molecular Profiling in Neuro-Oncology: Where We Are, Where We're Heading, and How We Ensure Everyone Can Come Along.
Molecular Profiling in Neuro-Oncology: Where We Are, Where We're Heading, and How We Ensure Everyone Can Come Along. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2023 May; 43:e389322.
PMID: 37167580
Current drug development and trial designs in neuro-oncology: report from the first American Society of Clinical Oncology and Society for Neuro-Oncology Clinical Trials Conference.
Current drug development and trial designs in neuro-oncology: report from the first American Society of Clinical Oncology and Society for Neuro-Oncology Clinical Trials Conference. Lancet Oncol. 2023 04; 24(4):e161-e171.
PMID: 36990614
Reply to B. Zhao et al.
Reply to B. Zhao et al. J Clin Oncol. 2023 02 01; 41(4):934-935.
PMID: 36191279
Joint Final Report of EORTC 26951 and RTOG 9402: Phase III Trials With Procarbazine, Lomustine, and Vincristine Chemotherapy for Anaplastic Oligodendroglial Tumors.
Joint Final Report of EORTC 26951 and RTOG 9402: Phase III Trials With Procarbazine, Lomustine, and Vincristine Chemotherapy for Anaplastic Oligodendroglial Tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2022 08 10; 40(23):2539-2545.
PMID: 35731991
On the Quest of Risk Stratification in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.
On the Quest of Risk Stratification in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2022 03 08; 114(3):345-346.
PMID: 33787921
CALGB 40603 (Alliance): Long-Term Outcomes and Genomic Correlates of Response and Survival After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With or Without Carboplatin and Bevacizumab in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
CALGB 40603 (Alliance): Long-Term Outcomes and Genomic Correlates of Response and Survival After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With or Without Carboplatin and Bevacizumab in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2022 04 20; 40(12):1323-1334.
PMID: 35044810
Appointee - Special Government Employee (SGE) member, Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
2021 - 2025
Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence - Developmental Research Program Award
Mayo Clinic
2018
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Cancer Research Award
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
2017
Distinguished Achievement Award
Kelly Government Solutions, National Cancer Institute
2012
Award for Excellence in Clinical Research
The American Brain Tumor Association
2009
REAC Pilot Research Award in Basic and Clinical/Translational Sciences
University of California San Francisco
2009
Travel Award - Biostatistics Workshop
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
2008
The Joseph L. Fleiss Memorial Prize in Biostatistics for an Outstanding Dissertation
Columbia University
2006
Merck & Co., Inc. Fellowship
Columbia University
2001 - 2004