Clinical Trials

& Cancer Research

50+ YEARS OF PROGRESS. YEARS OF HOPE.

Advancing Cancer Care Through Clinical Trials in Northern Virginia

200+

Active Trials

At any given time, the Institute has approximately 200 actively accruing clinical trials spanning Phase 1–3.

3

US Oncology Network Sites

Research access stems from three US Oncology Network sites, bringing more trial options closer to home.

3,400+

Patients Enrolled Since 1997

Since 1997, the Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute has enrolled more than 3,400 patients in clinical trials.

Largest

Mid-Atlantic Research Program

Home to the largest oncology research program in the Mid-Atlantic, including early-phase immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and cellular therapy studies.

Find A Clinical Trial

To inquire about clinical trials or reach a nurse navigator:

Patient Story

“Throughout my wife’s trial, the research staff and physicians provided the best medical care available anywhere. We knew the team had our back throughout the process. Last month, my wife passed away.

Largely through the work of the research and support staff, her life was extended 5 years providing half a decade of treasured memories to me and my family that we might have missed.

Thank you. I salute you.”

Spouse of Virginia Cancer Specialists Patient, 2025

Patient Information

Clinical Trials 101

Clinical trials are research studies conducted with patient volunteers to assess the benefit of novel therapies and improve long-term outcomes for specific diseases. Each study is designed to answer specific scientific questions and identify better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer.

What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are research studies conducted with patient volunteers to assess the benefit of novel therapies, improve outcomes, and answer important scientific questions about cancer treatment.

Each study has eligibility criteria so the research team can carefully evaluate who may participate.

How do trial phases work?

Phase I trials test a drug for the first time in a small group of people to evaluate safety and dosing.

Phase II trials study how well the treatment works and gather more safety data.

Phase III trials compare the investigational treatment against the current standard of care in larger groups of patients.

Why are clinical trials important?

Clinical trials help physicians find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. They also provide access to promising therapies that may not yet be commercially available.

What is informed consent?

Patients are given the opportunity to review a consent form specific to the trial.
After written consent, patients enter a screening period to complete study requirements.
If all criteria are met, the patient may move forward with enrollment.

What is a study protocol and why is it important?

A protocol is the study plan on which a clinical trial is based.
It protects participant safety and outlines the study purpose, eligibility requirements, treatment plan, and data collection.
Protocols are reviewed by the research team and an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before they are used.

Who pays for clinical trials?

Costs vary by study. Standard-of-care services are often billed the same way they would be outside a trial, while the sponsor may cover investigational drugs, extra testing, or study-specific procedures.

Your care team will review what is covered before you decide whether to participate.

How to Join

Should I participate in a Clinical Trial?

The decision to take part in a clinical trial is a personal one. You may wish to talk to your family and loved ones, as well as members of your health care team, before deciding. As with all current standard treatments, there can be possible risks as well as benefits from taking part in clinical trials.

Study drugs may be found to be more or less effective than current standard treatments and have side effects not yet known. You will be informed of these risks as much as possible. Your health care team will give you the information you need to make the decision that is right for you.

Myths & FAQ

Are clinical trials only for late-stage cancer?

No. Clinical trials are often recommended for both early-stage and advanced disease. In many cases, investigational treatments may offer safer or more effective options than the current standard treatment.

Will I be treated like a guinea pig or only get a placebo?

Patients are treated with dignity and are carefully monitored throughout the study. Placebos are rarely used in cancer trials, and when they are used, they are part of a carefully designed study plan that is explained during consent.

Can I withdraw from a clinical trial once I commit?

Yes. Participation is voluntary, and patients can withdraw at any time without affecting their future medical care.

Are clinical trials only offered at hospitals or academic centers?

No. Many clinical trials are offered in community settings, including Virginia Cancer Specialists, helping patients access emerging treatments without unnecessary travel.

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Sarah Cannon – Fighting Cancer Together

We also participate in clinical trials through Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), one of the world’s leading oncology research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials, and a leader in drug development for more than three decades.
SCRI has conducted more than 800 first-in-human clinical trials since its inception and contributed to pivotal research that has led to the majority of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA in the past decade. Virginia Cancer Specialists’ affiliation with SCRI creates new avenues and approaches to increase clinical trial access

Personalized Medicine

Clinical trials often utilize personalized medicine, which looks at a patient’s specific genetic mutations, markers, or DNA sequencing to inform the treatment approach. Many personalized medicine therapies are only available through clinical trials.

Virginia Cancer Specialists participates in many clinical trials to learn what works (and what doesn’t) as we advance cancer care. Trials are the best way for doctors to learn what is safe and effective to improve cancer outcomes.

Careful Monitoring

Because the promising new treatment is being carefully studied, patients are also carefully monitored by healthcare professionals to see how they are doing and to watch for side effects. Patients enrolled in clinical trials tend be monitored and talk with their care team more often than those not enrolled on a clinical trial.

Safety First

Requirements for clinical trials are strictly managed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before a therapy is approved for testing in humans, the FDA ensures that it has gone through strict testing protocols in laboratory animals.

Close to Home

As a renowned community cancer center, we offer clinical trials close to home without having to travel to an academic research institution. Patients here are closely monitored from some of the most respected cancer doctors in the country under the leadership of Alex Spira, MD, and Mitul Gandhi, MD.

Scientific Advancement

Participation enables patients to actively engage in their medical care while simultaneously helping future patients on the path to new transformative discoveries. Without clinical trials, there is no progress toward cures for cancer. By participating in scientific research through a clinical trial, you can help future cancer patients access new, better treatments and play a more active role in your own health care.

Patients gain access to novel treatments not yet commercially available that can benefit their outcome.

Cost Savings

Some patients may receive free or low-cost treatment for the duration of the study.

Available Clinical Trials at Virginia Cancer Specialists

ARLINGTON
BRISTOW
FAIRFAX
RESTON
WOODBRIDGE

Physician Leadership

Our physician leaders are integrated into the research program at every step, helping guide trial development, enrollment, and patient care across the Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute.