Cancer Clinical Trials
Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center is dedicated to finding more effective ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer through clinical trials. Our oncologists support numerous cancer-specific clinical trials, including those for brain, breast, gastrointestinal, liver, lung, prostate and many other cancers. A clinical trial may give you access to promising new cancer treatment options today, as well as make a difference for those diagnosed with cancer in the future.
If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, please contact us, as we can navigate you through this decision. If you are currently a HMNCC patient, please speak to your oncologist.
Patient Information
Sponsor Information
At Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, we provide a comprehensive, innovative care and access to clinical trials across Greater Houston. Using the latest research, treatments & technology to stop cancer. Through pioneering research, individualized treatment plans and compassionate care, doctors at the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center are steadfast in their mission to eradicate cancer and support those who have it.
There are many reasons why people choose to join a clinical trial. Some join a trial because the treatments they have tried for their health problem did not work. Others participate because there is no treatment for their health problem. By being part of a clinical trial, participants may find out about new treatments before they are widely available. Some studies are designed for, or include, people who are healthy but want to help find ways to prevent a disease, such as one that may be common in their family.
Participating in clinical research is an important decision and one that you should consider carefully before deciding to take part. If you are looking to find a particular study of interest or would like to learn ways on how to become involved in research, please contact us.
The benefits of participating in a clinical trial include:
Informed consent is a process of communication between you and your health care provider that often leads to agreement or permission for care, treatment, or services. Every patient has the right to get information and ask questions before procedures and treatments. If adult patients are mentally able to make their own decisions, medical care cannot begin unless they give informed consent.
The informed consent process makes sure that your health care provider has given you information about your condition along with testing and treatment options before you decide what to do.
Patients have the ability to change their mind at any time, even if you have already started treatment.
A new treatment goes through several phases, each with its own purpose:
Phase I: Tests whether a new treatment is safe, looks for the best way to give the treatment, and watches for signs that cancer responds to the treatment.
Phase II: Focuses on how a specific type of cancer responds to the new treatment.
Phase III: Tests whether a new treatment is better than the standard of care. After this phase, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the new drug or procedure.
Phase IV: After FDA approval, Phase IV determines the long-term benefits and side effects of the new treatment.
For more information on Clinical Trials: FDA.gov's Basics About Clinical Trials
Why participate in a clinical trial?
There are many reasons why people choose to join a clinical trial. Some join a trial because the treatments they have tried for their health problem did not work. Others participate because there is no treatment for their health problem. By being part of a clinical trial, participants may find out about new treatments before they are widely available. Some studies are designed for, or include, people who are healthy but want to help find ways to prevent a disease, such as one that may be common in their family.
Participating in clinical research is an important decision and one that you should consider carefully before deciding to take part. If you are looking to find a particular study of interest or would like to learn ways on how to become involved in research, please contact us.
The benefits of participating in a clinical trial include:
- Having the opportunity to take part in research that will help our experts better understand your type of cancer, which may lead to new ways to prevent, detect and treat it in the future.
- Being offered a new and potentially promising treatment that’s not available to the general public
- Receiving care at one of the nation’s leading academic hospitals
Informed Consent
Informed consent is a process of communication between you and your health care provider that often leads to agreement or permission for care, treatment, or services. Every patient has the right to get information and ask questions before procedures and treatments. If adult patients are mentally able to make their own decisions, medical care cannot begin unless they give informed consent.
The informed consent process makes sure that your health care provider has given you information about your condition along with testing and treatment options before you decide what to do.
Patients have the ability to change their mind at any time, even if you have already started treatment.
What Are the Phases of a Clinical Trial?
A new treatment goes through several phases, each with its own purpose:
Phase I: Tests whether a new treatment is safe, looks for the best way to give the treatment, and watches for signs that cancer responds to the treatment.
Phase II: Focuses on how a specific type of cancer responds to the new treatment.
Phase III: Tests whether a new treatment is better than the standard of care. After this phase, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the new drug or procedure.
Phase IV: After FDA approval, Phase IV determines the long-term benefits and side effects of the new treatment.
For more information on Clinical Trials: FDA.gov's Basics About Clinical Trials
Sponsor Information
The Clinical Trials Office (CTO) at the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center (HMNCC) serves as a centralized resource providing Cancer Center Support Grant-expected CPDM support to its investigators. The CTO offers comprehensive services for Investigator-Initiated Trials which includes, but is not limited to, protocol development, IND management, clinicaltrials.gov entry, regulatory compliance, clinical and data management, financial management, and data reporting.
The CTO supports and facilitates accrual to institutional, industry, and federally funded trials by providing trained clinical research coordinators and data management support to Cancer Center investigators. The CTO also provides clinical research training and education to CTO staff and investigators related to best practices in conducting clinical research and performs quality assurance activities to monitor compliance with federal regulations and local policies. The CTO communicates active clinical studies to HMNCC physicians, referring physicians, and the public to increase clinical trial awareness and accruals. The CTO is comprised of 36 FTEs who provide services in support of the active trials at HMNCC.
If you are interested in conducting a clinical trial at HMNCC, we are can provide incident rates. please contact us at ccresearch@houstonmethodist.org.
The CTO supports and facilitates accrual to institutional, industry, and federally funded trials by providing trained clinical research coordinators and data management support to Cancer Center investigators. The CTO also provides clinical research training and education to CTO staff and investigators related to best practices in conducting clinical research and performs quality assurance activities to monitor compliance with federal regulations and local policies. The CTO communicates active clinical studies to HMNCC physicians, referring physicians, and the public to increase clinical trial awareness and accruals. The CTO is comprised of 36 FTEs who provide services in support of the active trials at HMNCC.
If you are interested in conducting a clinical trial at HMNCC, we are can provide incident rates. please contact us at ccresearch@houstonmethodist.org.
HMNCC Catchment Area (2021)
Our Administration
Directors and Managers
With a robust portfolio of clinical trials, including breast, lung, skin and many more, the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center provides many opportunities for many patients who are at different points in their cancer journeys. By taking part in a clinical trial, you have access to potentially effective treatments not available elsewhere. Additionally, you will contribute to cancer research, which can help other cancer patients in the future.
The Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center Clinical Trials Organization provides centralized resources for the conduct of cancer-related clinical research within the Houston Methodist Hospital System. The purpose of the CTO is to provide an effective and efficient infrastructure to support HMNCC investigators in developing, conducting, analyzing and reporting all cancer clinical research studies at HMNCC. HMNCC leadership is focusing on reshaping the clinical research portfolio to emphasize the growth of the NCTN portion of the portfolio with increased participation by HMNCC community-based investigators, and improved database and staffing support for investigator-initiated, early phase, clinical trials.
Click here to view our administrative clinical timeline.
The Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center Clinical Trials Organization provides centralized resources for the conduct of cancer-related clinical research within the Houston Methodist Hospital System. The purpose of the CTO is to provide an effective and efficient infrastructure to support HMNCC investigators in developing, conducting, analyzing and reporting all cancer clinical research studies at HMNCC. HMNCC leadership is focusing on reshaping the clinical research portfolio to emphasize the growth of the NCTN portion of the portfolio with increased participation by HMNCC community-based investigators, and improved database and staffing support for investigator-initiated, early phase, clinical trials.
Click here to view our administrative clinical timeline.
Directors and Managers
Ahmed Bayoumi, MD, Administrative Director
responsible for HMNCC clinical trial’s strategic planning and directs the CTO’s administrative, clinical, financial, human resources, and regulatory compliance activities to support the HMNCC goals.
Anne McCombs, Community Research Supervisor
Provides clinical coordination and data management at all six HMH Community Hospitals namely Houston Methodist West Hospital, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital and Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital.
Johanna Salom, Manager, Research Operations
Oversees CTO regulatory affairs and research operations. Responsibilities impact the management, planning, development, budget, and administrative activities of the HMNCC Cancer Clinical Trials. Assists with strategic planning for department missions and growth.
Dalisa Santiago, MBA, BS, BSN, RN
Oversees clinical trials coordination and data management at Houston Methodist Hospital. Additionally, Dalisa manages the clinical trials lab processing and shipping and treatment plans builds.
responsible for HMNCC clinical trial’s strategic planning and directs the CTO’s administrative, clinical, financial, human resources, and regulatory compliance activities to support the HMNCC goals.
Anne McCombs, Community Research Supervisor
Provides clinical coordination and data management at all six HMH Community Hospitals namely Houston Methodist West Hospital, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital and Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital.
Johanna Salom, Manager, Research Operations
Oversees CTO regulatory affairs and research operations. Responsibilities impact the management, planning, development, budget, and administrative activities of the HMNCC Cancer Clinical Trials. Assists with strategic planning for department missions and growth.
Dalisa Santiago, MBA, BS, BSN, RN
Oversees clinical trials coordination and data management at Houston Methodist Hospital. Additionally, Dalisa manages the clinical trials lab processing and shipping and treatment plans builds.
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