Learn About Cancer Clinical Trials

Who Conducts and Sponsors Cancer Clinical Trials?

Cancer clinical trials are conducted by dedicated researchers in a variety of settings throughout the United States—from teaching universities and cancer centers—to individual practices and community hospitals. Sponsors include various organizations in both government and industry. Here is a brief look at some of the major sponsors of cancer clinical trials.

Cooperative Groups

There are 10 major cancer cooperative groups in the United States and Canada. These regional and national groups are networks of institutions and investigators at academic hospitals, community hospitals, and medical practices that voluntarily collaborate to conduct cancer research. About half the cancer patients participating in cancer clinical trials in any given year are part of cooperative group studies.

Cancer Centers

Sixty institutions have been designated as Comprehensive or Clinical Cancer Centers by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). These centers conduct several hundred cancer clinical trials in any given year.

Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP)

This network makes cancer clinical trials accessible to patients in smaller communities in 29 states. It includes community cancer specialists and primary care physicians.

Federal Agencies

Although most government-sponsored cancer clinical trials are conducted through the NCI, several other agencies conduct or sponsor cancer-related clinical research. These include the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Pharmaceutical Industry

More than 100 pharmaceutical companies conduct cancer clinical trials, many involving early-phase research.