Tennessee Oncology Launches Dedicated Early-Phase Clinical Research Unit to Expand Community Access to Experimental Cancer Therapies
核心洞察
Tennessee Oncology (搜索) opened a new early-phase clinical research unit in Nashville, led by Jeffery Russell, MD, PhD, MBA, and Joseph Merriman, MD, with a team of 20 research professionals.
The community-based unit extends access to innovative cancer therapies beyond academic medical centers, allowing patients to participate in cutting-edge trials close to home.
Tennessee Oncology (搜索) currently enrolls patients in approximately 100 trials across 22 locations throughout Tennessee and parts of Georgia, treating nearly half of the state's cancer patients.
Tennessee Oncology (搜索)'s clinical research division, the Greco-Hainsworth Centers for Research (搜索), announced the opening of a new clinical research unit dedicated to early-stage cancer drug development on November 5, 2025. The unit, located at Elliston Place Plaza in Nashville, represents a significant expansion of community-based access to experimental cancer therapies.
The facility will be led by Jeffery Russell, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., as director, and Joseph Merriman, M.D., as assistant director, who together will oversee a team of 20 research professionals. This marks a strategic expansion of Tennessee Oncology (搜索)'s clinical trials program, which already operates one of the leading clinical trial networks in the country.
Expanding Access to Innovative Therapies
"We're excited to build upon Tennessee Oncology (搜索)'s rich history of clinical research in the community with the launch of our early-phase unit," said Dr. Russell. "By conducting early-phase clinical trials where patients already receive their care, we can expand access to potentially life-changing therapies and enhance continuity of care for our patients, while driving innovation in cancer treatment."
Early-phase research represents the leading edge of cancer therapy innovation, testing how new drugs work in humans and determining safety and dosage. The community-based approach addresses a critical gap in clinical trial access, as many patients cannot travel to major academic medical centers for experimental treatments.
Community Oncology's Role in Drug Development
Community oncology practices play an important role in early-phase cancer clinical trials by extending access to innovative therapies beyond academic centers. This approach allows more patients to participate in clinical trials within their communities, keeping them close to their physicians, care teams, and support networks.
According to the announcement, conducting clinical trials in community practices accelerates trial enrollment and broadens the diversity of trial participation. The community setting also demonstrates that advanced research can be safely and effectively integrated into real-world oncology practices, potentially shortening development timelines and bringing promising therapies to patients sooner.
Strategic Vision for Cancer Research
Ian W. Flinn, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Tennessee Oncology (搜索) and OneOncology (搜索)'s research division, OneR (搜索), emphasized the strategic importance of the new unit. "Establishing an early phase program at Tennessee Oncology allows us to bring the most promising cancer therapies to patients at the very start of development," said Dr. Flinn. "By conducting these studies within our practice, we can accelerate the pace of discovery, attract groundbreaking research partnerships, and offer patients access to cutting-edge treatments years before they reach the market."
Expanding Research Network
Tennessee Oncology (搜索) launched the Greco-Hainsworth Research Centers in 2023, and the organization currently enrolls patients in approximately 100 trials, including a growing portfolio of early phase studies, at 22 locations throughout Tennessee and parts of Georgia. The new early-phase unit is housed at Tennessee Oncology's flagship cancer center at Elliston Place Plaza, 322 22nd Ave. N., Suite 300.
Organizational Impact
Tennessee Oncology (搜索), established in 1976 in Nashville, treats nearly half the cancer patients in Tennessee and operates as one of the nation's largest community-based cancer care practices. The organization's mission focuses on providing access to high-quality cancer care and clinical research expertise for all patients at convenient locations within their communities and close to their homes.