OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center Doubles Phase 1 Clinical Trial Capacity with $35 Million Federal Investment
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OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center (search) has expanded its Oklahoma Phase 1 Clinical Trials Center to nearly double patient enrollment capacity to 500 patients annually.
The expansion includes nearly 20,000 square feet of new laboratory space featuring advanced cancer research technology and open-concept design to enhance researcher collaboration.
The $35 million federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Build Back Better Regional Challenge supports Oklahoma's only Phase 1 clinical trials program.
OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center (search) has significantly expanded its clinical research capabilities with the opening of an enlarged Phase 1 Clinical Trials Center that will nearly double patient enrollment capacity and the addition of 20,000 square feet of advanced laboratory space. The expansion positions the center to enroll nearly 500 patients annually in early-stage cancer drug trials, with the ambitious goal of becoming one of the top five largest Phase 1 clinical trial centers in the United States.
The expansion was made possible through $35 million in federal funding awarded in 2022 from the Build Back Better Regional Challenge of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. Stephenson Cancer Center was among six investment projects selected as part of the Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster, an initiative led by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber (search) in partnership with OU, OU Health, the Oklahoma City Innovation District, Echo Investment Capital and other coalition partners.
Expanding Access to Experimental Cancer Therapies
"Today's ribbon-cutting represents our commitment to eliminating cancer in Oklahoma and beyond," said Robert Mannel, M.D., director of Stephenson Cancer Center. "We will now be able to enroll nearly 500 patients a year on Phase 1 clinical trials, offering them the most advanced research-driven care in the state of Oklahoma."
Stephenson Cancer Center operates the only Phase 1 clinical trials program in Oklahoma, making this expansion particularly significant for state residents seeking access to innovative experimental treatments. The expanded footprint will provide more Oklahomans access to new drugs, most of which are being made available to patients for the first time. The funding will also support workforce expansion through the hiring of additional clinical trial personnel.
Advanced Laboratory Infrastructure for Collaborative Research
The newly constructed laboratory space, housed in the Biomedical Sciences Building adjacent to Stephenson Cancer Center, serves as the new home for the Department of Oncology Science in the OU College of Medicine. The facility features state-of-the-art cancer research technology and an open-concept floor design specifically engineered to promote collaboration among researchers.
"This design will allow our researchers to work together in a way that was not possible when they were isolated in their individual labs," said Pankaj Singh, Ph.D., professor and founding chair of the Department of Oncology Science. "Team science is becoming more and more important in cancer research. We expect this collaborative environment to speed the pace of research discoveries."
Focus on Oklahoma's Cancer Burden
Researchers in the Department of Oncology Science concentrate their efforts on cancers most prevalent among Oklahoma patients, including pancreatic, breast, lung, ovarian, colorectal and liver cancers. The department emphasizes translational research, which bridges laboratory discoveries with potential therapeutic applications for targeting cancerous cells.
"For example, we study how vulnerabilities in cancer cells could be targeted with treatment, and how the body's own immune system can be primed to target cancer cells," Singh explained. "We also test new combinations of chemotherapies and radiotherapies to create more effective, precise treatments with fewer side effects."
Economic Development Through Biotechnology Investment
The expansion represents a broader strategy to develop central Oklahoma's bioscience sector through public-private partnerships. The competitive federal funding award demonstrates the region's potential in biotechnology and related manufacturing sectors.
"This project is the physical manifestation of the vision we had in the development of the grant," said Christy Gillenwater, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber (search). "Being able to expand our community's capacity to develop and manufacture treatments here will advance science, save lives and create growth for our economy. Every Oklahoman should take pride in this announcement and the hope for the future it brings."