START and OneOncology Partnership Expands Clinical Trials from Academia to Community

START and OneOncology are launching three new early-phase cancer trial sites in California, Texas, and New Jersey, expanding access in community settings where 70% of patients receive care. The initiative will activate sites by early 2026, enhancing equity, speed, and scalability in cancer research.

The START Center for Cancer Research has partnered with OneOncology to expand access to early-phase oncology clinical trials by launching three new research sites within major community practices. This collaboration marks a significant shift in how—and where—innovative cancer therapies reach patients. START, the world’s largest early-phase oncology network, has conducted over 700 trials and contributed to 45 FDA/EMA approvals.

This expansion will bring START’s early-phase trial infrastructure to three prominent OneOncology partner practices: the Los Angeles Cancer Network (LACN) in California, The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD) in Texas, and Astera Cancer Care in New Jersey. These sites will join an existing START research site at The Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan, reinforcing the partnership’s goal: decentralizing cancer research to meet patients where they are.

“The existing early-phase cancer research infrastructure, heavily reliant on Academic Medical Centers, is no longer sustainable in the face of the mounting pressure for faster trial activation, broader scalability, and more diverse patient representation. START solves this by embedding trials directly into community settings—bringing research closer to patients and accelerating drug development,” said Nick Slack, Chairman and CEO of START. “By partnering with community practices like LACN, CCBD, and Astera, we are advancing our leadership by tapping into communities whose patients are most in need of early-phase clinical trials. For pharmaceutical companies, this partnership means a faster, more scalable, and efficient model for drug development.”

As the world’s largest network dedicated to Phase I oncology trials, it operates 10 clinical trial sites globally, with more than 700 studies under the direction of 31 Principal Investigators. Since its inception, START has been integral to the FDA and EMA approval of more than 45 novel anti-cancer agents. The organization has developed a scalable model that delivers high-quality data while significantly shortening the timeline from discovery to delivery.

But until recently, the early-phase trial landscape remained dominated by academic medical centers—often far removed from the communities where most cancer patients actually live and receive care. Community settings account for over 70% of U.S. oncology treatment, yet fewer than 20% of early-phase clinical trials are accessible there. This discrepancy contributes to delays in enrollment, limited patient diversity, and missed opportunities for early intervention.

OneOncology aims to change that

“OneOncology’s core mission has always been to elevate the standard and reach of community oncology care. Working with START allows our partner practices to extend their capabilities into groundbreaking early phase research, providing access to new therapies traditionally reserved for academic centers,” said Dr. Jeff Patton, CEO of OneOncology. “Together, we’re transforming the patient experience, bringing innovation closer to home and significantly impacting cancer outcomes nationwide.”

OneOncology’s network includes over 1,750 providers caring for nearly a million patients annually across 565 locations. The synergy with START offers a new channel for early-phase innovation to flow from labs to local clinics, enhancing equity in access and enriching the diversity of trial populations—two critical priorities in modern cancer research.

The rollout is expected to begin in July 2025, with full integration of the new sites into START’s research and operational framework by early 2026. Each site will follow a streamlined activation process and leverage START’s centralized infrastructure for consistent data quality, regulatory compliance, and trial execution.

Leaders from the partnering practices have underscored the transformative impact of this initiative: 

• Troy Simon, CEO of the Los Angeles Cancer Network, stated, “Our partnership with START will redefine possibilities for patients in Southern California, offering timely access to groundbreaking trials and treatments.” 
• Barry Russo, CEO of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Texas, added, “This collaboration with START significantly enhances our ability to deliver advanced clinical trials, aligning perfectly with our commitment to top-tier patient care.” 
• Edward Licitra, MD, PhD, CEO of Astera Cancer Care in New Jersey, emphasized, “We are thrilled about this partnership, which bridges the innovation gap traditionally seen between community and academic oncology settings, making leading-edge clinical trials accessible to more patients across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”