Clinical research training for research-naïve staff members can successfully enhance clinical trial–readiness at community cancer centers, according to the findings of a recent collaboration between Roche/Genentech, the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC), and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).
The history and next steps for the project, which was funded by a Roche/Genentech educational sponsorship to the ACRP-led Partners Advancing the Clinical Research Workforce multi-stakeholder consortium, will be the focus of a session later this month on “Building Clinical Trial Research Capacity at Community Cancer Centers” at ACRP 2025 in New Orleans, La. The speakers will include three representatives of the project team: Ruma Bhagat, MD, MPH, Senior Director, Health Equity & Population Science, Product Development, Genentech, Inc.; Kimberly Demirhan, MBA, BSN, RN, Assistant Director, Education Programs, ACCC; and Mona Gilliam, MSN, APRN-BC, CNS, Director Medical Strategy: Congress, Alliances, Societies, Genentech. Also speaking at the session will be Kemi Oladipupo from the Touro Cancer Center, which was among the centers receiving the training, and Marian Valia, Head of Learning & Development for ACRP.
The project team studied the impact of live (virtual), instructor-led, foundational and therapeutic area–specific clinical research training in oncology for 16 participants at nine ACCC community cancer programs. Nineteen participants from 10 sites had earlier taken part in a self-study of key resources and guidance on the topic. Included in the ACRP 2025 discussion of the blueprint being developed for future training based on the project will be the results of a participant survey showing that learners believed the training improved their knowledge and confidence.
The continued transformation of the clinical research enterprise, including a measured improvement in representation of a diverse population in clinical trials, depends on a research-ready workforce at an expanded number of community-based clinical research sites that are ready to conduct studies in human volunteers responsibly, the project team members said.
“If multiplied at scale, [this program] could significantly enhance the number of oncology clinical trial sites across the U.S., helping boost enrollment and diversity of patient populations,” said Katie Marceau RN, MS-NL, OCN, CCRP, Executive Director of Clinical Trial Site Solutions for TrialNAV, one of two trainers for the project. “This would increase patient access to clinical trials and could shorten the timeframe for study completion. The training may make more sites feel empowered to participate in clinical trials, and may encourage more individuals to enter clinical research.”
The other trainer was Beth Bieze, MA, CCRA, ACRP-PM, FACRP, Clinical Quality Management Director for ProTrials.
“Genentech was impressed with the strong connection between ACRP and ACCC, and with the communication between ACRP and Genentech,” said Genentech’s Gilliam.
“This type of training program enables participants to create a network of contacts at other sites as well as at the sponsor company,” noted ACCC’s Demirhan. “This will help build programs, understand what other programs are doing, and share resources.”
Building Clinical Trial Research Capacity at Community Cancer Centers
Join Kimberly Demirhan, Mona Gilliam, Ruma Bhagat, Kemi Oladipupo, and Marian Valia at ACRP 2025 [April 24-27; New Orleans, La.] as they discuss the results of the impact of providing foundational and therapeutic area-specific clinical research training (oncology) at select ACCC community cancer programs to create a blueprint for training research-naïve oncology staff in the community setting. View complete schedule.
An important next step will be to explore how best to communicate to other sponsors and contract research organizations that the sites involved in the training are ready to conduct a trial, the project team members said.
“ACRP deeply appreciates the commitment from Roche/Genentech and its collaborator, ACCC, for this program,” said ACRP’s Valia. “We look forward to communicating further the program’s key learnings and having the opportunity to expand the program.”
Edited by Gary Gramer
