SUMMARY
Minji K. Lee, Ph.D., M.S., is a measurement scientist whose research centers on quality of life in patients with cancer. She serves as the lead faculty statistician for the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic. Her areas of expertise include item response theory, latent variable models, patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures, predictive artificial intelligence (AI) models, and the design and analysis of cancer clinical trials. The value of PRO measures in clinical research and healthcare delivery depends on how well patients and clinicians can interpret the scores. Dr. Lee's research on measurement properties and bias supports the valid use of PROs.
Dr. Lee's work focuses on developing a single summary metric to quantify symptomatic adverse event burden using the PRO version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, as well as defining thresholds in PROs to interpret symptom severity and meaningful change through qualitative and quantitative methods. Her research also explores financial toxicity and the impact of social determinants of health in patients with cancer.
Focus areas
- Clinical trial designs
- Quality of life
- Symptom management and intervention
- Financial toxicity and social determinants of health
Significance to patient care
PROs help healthcare professionals understand how patients are feeling and functioning. They can even send alerts to the care team if something seems wrong, especially when patients are being monitored from home. Dr. Lee's research strengthens how PROs are used to identify patients who may need extra support, helping ensure that care is timely and personalized.
Professional highlights
- National Cancer Institute (NCI):
- Faculty statistician, Symptom Intervention Committee, NCI Community Oncology Research Program, 2024-present.
- Faculty statistician, Cancer in the Older Adult Committee, NCI Community Oncology Research Program, 2024-present.