Clinical Research

Research at BCI

Our clinical research programs permit patients and their physicians to have access to the latest drugs and procedures that are in the development process without the need to travel outside of our community. Research programs are available in prevention, screening, and treatment of many types of cancer.

Our research is heavily committed to the clinical research programs of the National Cancer Institute. Our institution is a national cooperative site of the:

• American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
• National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)
• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)

Also, through the Clinical Trials Support Unit, we have immediate access to all study protocols approved through the National Cancer Institute. In addition, various pharmaceutical research studies are offered.

Our commitment to research is recognized nationwide. In 2003, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) honored the Baptist Cancer Institute with an award for our "Outstanding Contributions in Cancer Clinical Trials."

Baptist Cancer Institute continues to lead this region in participation in research protocols - offering patients an opportunity to take advantage of new therapies and receive promising treatments before they are widely available.

What is a protocol?
A protocol is a study plan on which all clinical research is based. The plan is carefully designed to safeguard the health of the participants as well as answer specific research questions. A protocol describes what types of people may participate in the trial; the schedule of tests, procedures, medications, and dosages; and the length of the study. While in a clinical trial, participants following a protocol are seen regularly by the research staff to monitor their health and to determine the safety and effectiveness of their treatment.

Baptist Health is participating in the following types of cancer research trials.

• Brain/Central Nervous System
• Breast
• Gastrointestinal
• Genitourinary
• Gynecological
• Head and Neck
• Hematology
• Lung
• Melanoma/Sarcoma
• Miscellaneous Trials
• Stem Cell

You can also access the entire BCI Clinical Trials list and then perform a search by using the "Find on this page" feature which is typcially available in the Edit menu of your browser or by using CTRL+F on your keyboard.

For general information about clinical trials, please visit the National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials website.