骚虎tv

Key Points 

• Community oncology practices play a critical role in enhancing patient access and engagement in clinical trials. 
• Approximately 85% of cancer patients receive treatment in the communities where they live. 
• McKesson and SCRI are expanding access to clinical trials through community-based research infrastructure and technology. 
• Education, technology and trust-building are essential to improving clinical trial participation. 

Cancer Research Summit 2025 is a global event that brings together leading scientists, researchers and professionals from around the world to share the latest findings, innovations and insights in cancer research.

This year’s event featured a mainstage panel discussion sponsored by McKesson, which focused on the important role community oncology practices play in enhancing patient access and engagement in clinical trials.

The discussion was moderated by Dee Anna Smith, CEO of Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), and included:

• Mia Velasquez-Egan, Vice President of Research Operations, The US Oncology Network, McKesson
• David Spigel, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, SCRI; Oncologist, SCRI Oncology Partners, a practice in The US Oncology Network

The panelists agreed that clinical trials should be the first option for individuals battling cancer - not a last resort. Yet, only 5% engage in clinical research, with participation for rare cancers even lower.

They examined challenges and explored solutions to expand clinical trial participation in the communities where most patients receive care.

Putting Community Oncology Practices at the Center of Clinical Research

Clinical trials are critical to advancing scientific discovery and improving patient care, yet they remain complex and challenging to conduct - particularly for rare cancers.

Patients encounter significant barriers to trial enrollment, including limited rural access, complex eligibility criteria and lack of awareness, with more than 40% of Americans unaware of clinical trials.

Today, approximately 85% of cancer patients receive treatment in the communities where they live. Community oncology practices, which often serve diverse patient populations in rural areas, play a key role in expanding access beyond large hospitals and academic centers while ensuring broader representation in research.

At McKesson, through our joint venture with SCRI, one of the world’s leading oncology research organizations, we are expanding patient access to cutting-edge treatments close to home. With over 250 trial locations across 24 states, patients can participate in research without traveling long distances.

“Thousands of patients don’t have access to large institutions or academic centers,” said Dr. Spigel. “Our job is to bring the best science and a menu of great opportunities to local community doctors, help them build the necessary infrastructure, and provide them with resources to conduct research while delivering the best care to patients.”

“40% of the U.S. population is within 15-20 minutes of a practice we support,” said Velasquez-Egan. “There is this incredible ‘haystack’ of patients who may be right for a trial, but finding that ‘needle,’ that one patient who would be a match is really tough for physicians and their staff. We can help practices find that needle through our technology offerings."

Enhancing Clinical Trial Infrastructure and Operations

Many community-based oncology practices face infrastructure and operational hurdles when conducting clinical trials.

To address this, McKesson and SCRI:

• Partner with practices to manage drug distribution, storage, accountability and large clinical data volumes with quality assurance.  
• Use AI鈥慸riven platforms to match patients with suitable community鈥慴ased trials.  
• Provide financial stability, clinical resources, education and technology to integrate trials into daily workflows and retain patients. 

“It’s on us to make the process as easy as possible for community oncologists and their teams, given all of the complexity that exists in research and their already very busy everyday workflow,” said Velasquez-Egan.

“We remove barriers so that more patients have access to innovative treatment options through clinical trials. The physicians’ spirit is willing, and we help ensure not only that it gets done, but also that quality is the first priority as it relates to getting the right patients on the right trials at the right times,” Smith added. “Technology, in so many ways, is the glue that provides patient access and ties together what it is that we're trying to do at scale."

Continuing Education and Building Community Trust 

McKesson provides ongoing education to practices in The US Oncology Network, including:

• Using biomarkers to match patients with precision medicine trials
• Selecting appropriate molecular tests
• Interpreting results and biopsy best practices

Patient education is also a priority. McKesson partners with research sponsors to increase local awareness and participation, educating people within the communities where they already receive care. 

"Education is important. It's not just the investment, it's not just how you embed research and make it a core part of the practice’s everyday operations, but also how you can have the full team really recognize the importance of the therapy that we're testing and that it may be the lifesaving standard of care in a few years,” Velasquez-Egan explained.

Dr. Spigel agreed and touched on the importance of keeping up with all the latest research, treatment guidelines, and biomarker testing from a clinical perspective. “In oncology, you can’t take care of anyone without the advanced understanding of the genomic profile of the patient’s tumor. We help community oncologists understand these complex genetic testing results, access them in real-time and match patients to specific trials.”

View the on-demand recording . Learn more about McKesson’s oncology and specialty solutions by visiting Oncology Solutions | McKesson.