University-level Research in a Community Setting

As a community hospital, GBMC is uniquely positioned to respond to the needs of the community. When oncology patients need university-level research but want to remain with the doctors they know and love in a place that feels comfortable, we are there for them.

At GBMC's Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, enrolling in clinical trials allows patients the opportunity to potentially benefit from the latest breakthroughs, even before they become standard approaches. We are grateful to the Kahlert Foundation for establishing an endowment to enable us to provide the best possible advantages to cancer patients.

With more than 10% of all GBMC cancer patients enrolled in these studies, GBMC is going well beyond other community hospitals in the area to ensure patients have access to the latest therapies. These trials are not only part of an effort to extend and save the lives of current patients, they are contributing to the development of therapies that will save lives far into the future.

Within the last year, Judy Bosley RN, BSN, CCRP, Nurse Manager for the Clinical Research Team, has continued to build stronger relationships with pharmaceutical companies to afford patients access to a wider variety and volume of quality trials.

Novartis, Astra Zeneca and Merck increased their clinical trial offerings at GBMC, by recognizing the institution as a top provider in the therapeutic areas of breast, GYN, and head and neck cancers. By meeting or exceeding accrual goals and providing excellent trial oversight, we have seen a 40-50% increase in pharmaceutical trials over the last three years, earning our status as "the" community center for research.

GBMC has also been designated by the National Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network as a high-performing site for two consecutive years.

Judy, along with two other nurses and three data managers, manage the day-to-day operations of conducting and following studies. The team provides each of the 50-plus patients currently in active clinical trials with a personal patient navigator who guides them through their treatment process. And patients feel they are a part of something bigger – solving the issues for the future.

Each patient receives the standard of care for their cancer plus the trial drug, and with multidisciplinary teams rounding on each patient weekly, they are never far from support.

At GBMC, we’re committed to providing the best possible advantages to cancer patients. They’re ready to fight, we want to equip them with the best tools.