Catholic Health and HICCC at NYP/Columbia Partner to Expand Cancer Clinical Trial Access Across Long Island
Key Insights
Catholic Health (search) has entered a collaboration with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (search) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (search) to broaden patient access to select cancer (search) clinical trials and investigational therapies.
The partnership enables Catholic Health (search) to join the HICCC's NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), bringing NCI-sponsored trials directly to community settings on Long Island.
Twenty clinical trials are already underway through this collaboration, with additional studies expected to be introduced over time, administered locally at most Catholic Health (search) Cancer (search) Institute locations.
Catholic Health (search), an integrated health system serving Long Island, has entered into a collaboration with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (search) (HICCC) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (search) to advance cancer (search) care by broadening patient access to select innovative clinical trials and investigational therapies. The partnership, announced by both institutions, aims to strengthen research that drives medical discovery and improves patient outcomes while delivering advanced treatment options closer to home.
Through this collaboration, Catholic Health (search) patients will gain direct access to select cancer (search) clinical trials and investigational drug programs offered through the HICCC, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center recognized for its leadership in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research innovation. Catholic Health also becomes a member of the HICCC's National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) grant, which focuses on providing NCI cancer clinical trials and care delivery studies to people in their own communities.
Twenty Trials Already Underway
There are already 20 clinical trials underway through this collaboration, with additional studies expected to be introduced over time. Trials and treatments will be administered locally at most Catholic Health (search) Cancer (search) Institute locations, blending Catholic Health's compassionate, evidence-based care model with the expertise and cutting-edge research infrastructure of one of the nation's premier cancer centers.
"This collaboration represents an important step forward in expanding access to advanced cancer (search) care for patients and communities across Long Island," said Gary Havican, interim president and CEO and chief operating officer of Catholic Health (search). "By working with the HICCC at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, we are able to bring innovative cancer therapies and select clinical trials closer to home, giving patients greater access to highly specialized, personalized treatment within their own communities."
Focus on Emerging Therapeutic Modalities
The collaboration will provide patients with additional opportunities to participate in select cancer (search) clinical trials evaluating emerging therapies, including targeted treatments, immunotherapies, and precision medicine approaches designed to improve survival and reduce side effects. The HICCC, which brings together more than 300 researchers and clinicians across seven schools and 37 departments at Columbia University, is internationally recognized for translating laboratory discoveries into novel clinical treatments and advancing multidisciplinary approaches that improve patient care.
"Expanding access to clinical trials is essential to accelerating cancer (search) research so that scientific advances reach more patients," said Anil K. Rustgi, MD, Herbert and Florence Irving director of the HICCC at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. "Our collaboration with Catholic Health (search) extends the reach of our research and provides patients across Long Island with access to innovative therapies that are shaping the future of cancer treatment."
Strengthening Regional Cancer (search) Care
The partnership pairs academic research leadership with Catholic Health (search)'s extensive clinical network, which includes over 17,000 employees, four cancer (search) institutes, six acute care hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health service, hospice, and a network of physician practices. The HICCC serves a catchment area of 11 million people across the New York City metropolitan region and beyond, with $130 million in annual cancer research funding.
"Clinical trials are essential to advancing cancer (search) treatment and improving long-term outcomes," said Bhoomi Mehrotra, MD, chair of cancer services for Catholic Health (search) and director of The Catholic Health Cancer Institute at St. Francis Hospital. "This collaboration allows our physicians to offer patients more targeted and emerging therapies within a coordinated, multidisciplinary care model, bringing research and clinical excellence together in a meaningful way."
Andrew Lassman, MD, FAAN, FASCO, associate director of clinical trials at the HICCC and professor of neurology at VP&S, emphasized the equity dimension of the initiative: "By bringing advanced clinical trials into community settings, we can help provide patients equitable access to innovative treatments while remaining supported within their local care teams."
Catholic Health (search) continues to invest in expanding oncology services, integrating research, and strengthening collaborations with leading academic institutions to provide patients with the most advanced treatment options available. The HICCC is one of only 58 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer (search) Centers in the nation.