START Opens New Early-Phase Cancer Clinical Trial Unit in New York-Long Island
Key Insights
The START Center for Cancer Research (search) opened a new early-phase clinical trial unit at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center (search) in New Hyde Park, expanding access to advanced cancer (search) treatments for New York patients.
The facility will provide community-based access to cutting-edge therapies including cell and gene therapy and radioligand therapy for patients with complex and rare cancer (search) diagnoses.
START's global network has conducted over 1,000 early-phase clinical trials across 14 sites, contributing to 45 FDA or EMA-approved therapies.
The START Center for Cancer Research (search) has officially opened its newest early-phase clinical trial unit, START New York-Long Island, at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center (search) in New Hyde Park. The facility represents a significant expansion of clinical trial access for cancer (search) patients in the New York metropolitan area, offering community-based participation in advanced therapeutic studies.
Expanding Access to Advanced Cancer Therapies
The new clinical trial unit is specifically designed to serve New Yorkers facing complex and rare cancer (search) diagnoses, providing local access to cutting-edge treatments that were previously available only at major academic medical centers. The facility will conduct trials for advanced therapeutic modalities including cell and gene therapy and radioligand therapy, bringing these innovative treatment options directly to the community.
"This new clinical trial site will help to ensure that New Yorkers facing complex and rare cancer (search) diagnoses will have access to the most advanced treatments, including cell and gene therapy and radioligand therapy, in the community where they live," according to START's announcement of the opening.
Comprehensive Clinical Trial Infrastructure
The START New York-Long Island facility features state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to support complex early-phase clinical trials. The unit includes dedicated exam rooms, specialized infusion areas for administering investigational therapies, advanced imaging capabilities, laboratory facilities for real-time analysis, and an on-site pharmacy to manage investigational drug products.
This comprehensive setup enables the facility to conduct sophisticated clinical trials while maintaining the highest standards of patient care and regulatory compliance required for early-phase oncology studies.
Proven Track Record in Drug Development
START's global network demonstrates substantial experience in early-phase cancer (search) research, having conducted more than 1,000 early-phase clinical trials across 14 clinical trial sites spanning the United States, Europe, and Ireland. This extensive portfolio has contributed to significant therapeutic advances, with 45 therapies that participated in START trials subsequently receiving approval from either the United States Food and Drug Administration (search) or the European Medicines Agency (search).
The network's track record underscores the potential impact of the new New York-Long Island facility in advancing cancer (search) treatment development and providing patients with access to promising investigational therapies.
Leadership and Partnership
The new facility operates through a partnership between The START Center for Cancer Research (search) and the Northwell Cancer Institute (search). Key leadership includes Nick Slack, MBE, Chairman and CEO of The START Center for Cancer Research, and Dr. Geraldine O'Sullivan Coyne, MD, PhD, MRCPI, who serves as Director of Clinical Research for START New York-Long Island and System Head at Northwell.
The Northwell Cancer Institute (search) leadership team includes Dr. Richard R. Barakat, MD, MBA, Physician in Chief and Executive Director, Dr. Richard Carvajal, MD, Medical Director and Deputy Physician-in-Chief of Medical Oncology, and Jon Sendach, Executive Vice President and President of Central Market for Northwell Health.
The facility's grand opening ceremony took place on December 16, featuring presentations from these key leaders and tours of the new clinical trial infrastructure, highlighting the collaborative approach to expanding cancer (search) clinical trial access in the New York region.