Clinical Trials and Research

A clinical trial is the process of testing a new drug or therapy before it is marketed to the general public. Clinical trials are funded by the federal government and by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The business that is marketing the drug will ask physicians to help recruit patients to test the drug. Patients generally are not paid to participate in clinical research. People who participate are monitored closely during the testing process.
Patients at the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial Health University Medical Center have access to more than 200 clinical trials because of our involvement and/or membership in the following research organizations:

• Southeast Cancer Control Consortium (SCCC), which provides access to National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials
• Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), which has an alliance with 24 community hospitals across the Southeast
• Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)
• National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)
• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
• Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
• University of Rochester Research Center (URCC)
• Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)
• Children's Oncology Group (COG)
• American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)