START Hope Hub Connect Patients and Physicians with Faster, Smarter Trial Access

The START Center for Cancer Research announced the launch of the START Hope Hub, a digital platform providing access to over 720 active oncology clinical trials. Designed for patients, physicians, and advocacy groups, it bridges the gap between community care and early-phase trials.

This new initiative addresses a persistent challenge in oncology: while more than 80% of cancer patients receive care in community settings, the lion’s share of early-phase clinical trials remains concentrated in academic medical centers. The result is a striking mismatch between where patients are and where cutting-edge research happens.

The START Hope Hub is a direct response to that gap. By offering centralized, user-friendly access to START’s network of more than 720 active oncology clinical trials, the platform promises to democratize access to novel therapies, ensuring that geography no longer determines opportunity.

“The START Hope Hub is a major leap forward in how we bring cancer clinical trials, oncology trial resources, and empathetic navigators to patients and their treating oncologists,” said Nick Slack, CEO of START. “For nearly 20 years, START has been focused on delivering our mission of “hope through access” by bringing cutting-edge clinical trial options to patients and their physicians where care is delivered. Since day one, we have believed that comprehensive cancer care, which includes trials, should be available to all patients and physicians – not just those in Academic Medical Centers. ‘Access’ to trials transcends the trial itself.”

Technology Meets Compassion

At its core, the START Hope Hub is both a technical innovation and a human-centered service. It offers an intuitive interface where users—patients, caregivers, or referring oncologists—can filter trial options by cancer type, biomarkers, geography, study phase, or protocol ID. More than a static database, it incorporates intelligent trial-matching algorithms alongside personalized support from the “Hope Team,” a dedicated group of professionals who guide users through every step of the clinical trial exploration and enrollment process.

“As a physician, I know how daunting it can be for families to explore clinical trials,” said Dr. Chris Takimoto, START’s Global Chief Medical Officer. “What the START Hope Hub provides is clarity, connection, and most importantly—possibility. It empowers oncologists and caregivers alike to explore the right options at the right time for the patients who need them most.”

For physicians, particularly those outside major academic institutions, the platform serves as a trusted extension of their care team. It enables oncologists to refer patients with confidence, knowing they’ll receive both scientifically rigorous treatment options and the logistical support needed to access them.

A Resource for the Entire Cancer Ecosystem

Beyond direct patient benefit, the START Hope Hub is poised to have a ripple effect across the broader cancer research ecosystem. For advocacy organizations, it functions as a real-time, shareable repository of trial opportunities tailored to their communities. For biopharmaceutical sponsors, it enhances trial visibility and recruitment efficiency, reducing cycle times and mitigating delays in early-phase drug development.

START already boasts an unparalleled track record in early-phase oncology trials, having supported over 1,000 studies, including those that led to 45 FDA or EMA approvals. With ten clinical trial sites worldwide and the largest network of early-phase oncology investigators, START is uniquely positioned to operationalize the promise of the Hope Hub at scale.

Redefining Trial Access

As the landscape of precision oncology continues to evolve, timely and equitable access to experimental therapies is becoming a new benchmark in comprehensive cancer care. The START Hope Hub signals a paradigm shift—not only in how trials are accessed, but in how cancer care is envisioned beyond academic walls.