The RWJBarnabas Health system is revolutionizing access to cancer clinical trials through an innovative partnership between academic and community healthcare settings. This integrated approach, spearheaded by the collaboration between RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, is bringing cutting-edge treatments directly to patients in their local communities.
Expanding Geographic Access to Innovation
Dr. Howard S. Hochster, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute, explains the significance of this initiative: "Clinical trials are important because they give our patients tomorrow's treatment today, and so we like to bring the state-of-the-art treatments, and the ones that will be the state-of-the-art treatments, to all our patients through clinical research."
The network spans from Jersey City to the New Jersey shoreline, establishing a robust infrastructure that enables smaller, community-based centers to participate in clinical trials. This decentralized approach eliminates the need for patients to travel to the main campus in New Brunswick, significantly reducing logistical and financial barriers to participation.
Bridging the Academic-Community Divide
The partnership leverages the resources and expertise of both institutions to ensure comprehensive trial availability across the network. By integrating clinical trial capabilities throughout the system, community hospitals can maintain high standards of care while offering patients access to investigational therapies.
Cooperative group trials play a central role in this initiative, testing new therapies and combinations in a structured, multicenter setting. These trials are particularly valuable as they:
- Provide access to innovative treatments still in development
- Foster rapid advancements in oncology care
- Allow patients to benefit from potential future standards of care
- Enable research participation across diverse populations
Infrastructure and Implementation
RWJBarnabas Health has established a comprehensive support system to ensure successful trial execution across all sites. This includes:
- Standardized protocols and procedures
- Coordinated research staff training
- Unified quality control measures
- Seamless communication channels between academic and community centers
The system's approach demonstrates how strategic partnerships between academic and community healthcare providers can democratize access to cutting-edge cancer treatments, ultimately improving patient outcomes while advancing the field of oncology.
