Cancer Clinical Trials

Why participate in a clinical trial?

 

There are many reasons why people choose to join a clinical trial. Some join a trial because the treatments they have tried for their health problem did not work. Others participate because there is no treatment for their health problem. By being part of a clinical trial, participants may find out about new treatments before they are widely available. Some studies are designed for, or include, people who are healthy but want to help find ways to prevent a disease, such as one that may be common in their family.

 

Participating in clinical research is an important decision and one that you should consider carefully before deciding to take part. If you are looking to find a particular study of interest or would like to learn ways on how to become involved in research, please contact us.

 

The benefits of participating in a clinical trial include:

• Having the opportunity to take part in research that will help our experts better understand your type of cancer, which may lead to new ways to prevent, detect and treat it in the future
• Being offered a new and potentially promising treatment that’s not available to the general public
• Receiving care at one of the nation’s leading academic hospitals

Sponsor Information

 

HMNCC conducts cancer clinical trials at all seven sites. Investigators and clinical research staff are located at all cancer centers. All physicians at HMNCC are credentialed to place orders and treat patients at the HMNCC regional cancer centers. In 2022, over 11,300 patients have presented at HMNCC and satellite sites. HMNCC is striving to open all clinical trials at all sites when feasible, making it easier for racial and ethnic minorities and underserved cancer patients to access the latest cancer treatments through clinical trials. This also supports achieving accrual goals for each clinical trial. Clinical research conducted at satellite sites is well-established by the  clinical trial office to ensure compliance with protocol requirements, local policies, and federal regulations. HMNCC regional cancer centers contribute to approximately 40% of the annual accruals to treatment clinical trials.

 

Site Expertise

• Phase I to IV clinical trials including vaccine and other immunotherapy studies.
• Focus is on opening treatment clinical trials that are industry-sponsored, federally-funded, or investigator-initiated.
• The Cancer Clinical Trials Office (CTO) provides centralized services for developing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting of cancer-related clinical trials within the Houston Methodist Hospital System. 

The Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center Clinical Trials Organization provides centralized resources for the conduct of cancer-related clinical research within the Houston Methodist Hospital System. The purpose of the Cancer Clinical Trials Office is to provide an effective and efficient infrastructure to support HMNCC investigators in developing, conducting, analyzing and reporting all cancer clinical research studies at HMNCC. 

The Cancer Clinical Trials Office has three functional units reporting to the Administrative Director

Clinical Research Operations for Study Startup Activities 

The Clinical Research Operation consists of 14 research staff overseen by the Research Operations Manager. It consists of Finance unit, Regulatory unit, Quality Assurance/Education and Protocol Activation Project manager to support timely activation of new studies. 

 

Clinical and Data Management at Texas Medical Center  

Study Coordination and Data Management at Texas Medical Center consists of 13 staff members under the direction of a Clinical Trial Manager.

 

Clinical and Data Management at HMNCC Regional Cancer Centers 

Study Coordination and Data Management at the HMNCC Regional Cancer Centers consist of 11 staff members under the direction of a Clinical Trial Manager.

Click here to view our administrative timeline for study start-up >

 

Directors and Managers

 

Ahmed Bayoumi, MD, Administrative Director

Responsible for HMNCC clinical trial’s strategic planning and directs the CTO’s administrative, clinical, financial, human resources, and regulatory compliance activities to support the HMNCC goals.

 

Anne McCombs, Community Research Supervisor

Provides clinical coordination and data management at all seven HMH Community Hospitals: Cypress, West, Sugar Land, Willowbrook, The Woodlands, Baytown and Clear Lake.

 

Johanna Salom, Manager, Research Operations

Oversees CTO regulatory affairs and research operations. Responsibilities impact the management, planning, development, budget, and administrative activities of the HMNCC Cancer Clinical Trials. Assists with strategic planning for department missions and growth.

 

Titilayo Olubajo, MD MSM-HCA CCRP, Clinical Trials Manager

Oversees clinical trials coordination and data management at Houston Methodist Hospital. Additionally, Titilayo manages the clinical trials lab processing and shipping, and treatment plans builds.