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For the first time, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is now providing clinical trial opportunities at VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital. This marks an important milestone for the region and the VCU Health enterprise by expanding local access to advanced cancer care and research for residents in the Northern Neck area. The clinical trial is the first to ever be conducted at VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital.

In 2024, VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital became an affiliate member of VCU’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), giving the hospital access to dozens of cancer-focused trials offered through the NCI’s Clinical Trials Network and NCORP research bases that best meet the need of its patient population.

The introduction of the clinical trial reflects Massey’s mission to reduce the state cancer burden for all Virginians by making cutting-edge care more accessible for all communities, said Robert Winn, M.D., director of VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Massey.

“One of the critical steps toward beating cancer is having access to life-saving clinical trials where you live," Winn said. "I'm thrilled that we can bring the first-ever clinical trial option to Tappahannock and the Northern Neck community as part of our commitment to ensuring that all of our patients receive the highest standard of care, especially those in the rural communities.”

“Access to research and specialized care shouldn’t depend on where you live,” said Vikrant Brar, M.D., a Massey hematologist and oncologist based at VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital, who is also a participating provider in the clinical trial. “This effort brings the promise of tomorrow’s treatments to our patients today.”

The NCI is sponsoring the trial, which is part of the ACHIEVE trial. This phase III trial compares the effect of adding chemotherapy to immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) versus immunotherapy alone in treating patients with advanced lung cancer. In addition to VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital, Massey is also conducting the trial at its locations in downtown Richmond and Stony Point.   

By bringing pioneering treatment options and the latest research discoveries directly to the community, VCU Health is reducing the travel time for patients to receive the latest high-quality, evidence-based care. The launch of this clinical trial fulfills a key commitment of VCU Health to provide local access to innovative therapies and to advance the future of cancer treatment.

“By participating in these trials, patients help advance medical knowledge and bring advanced care to their community,” explained Marisa Eckert, MSN, BSN, RN, a clinical research nurse at VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital who is enrolling patients in this study. “Access to a variety of research studies ensures our community directly benefits from the latest innovations in cancer care without having to travel far from home.”

Cancer research takes many forms, each helping to improve prevention, detection and treatment for the disease. Some studies test new medications or therapies to find more effective treatments, while others focus on early detection, prevention or improving quality of life for patients. The current trial announced today is a major milestone for the cancer program in Tappahannock but is just the beginning of bringing world-class research opportunities to the community.

The clinical research at Massey is a core component of its mission as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, focused on discovering and developing new drugs and better treatments with the goal of achieving a future without cancer. Massey is involved in over 200 cancer-related studies and treatment clinical trials, integrating community input into its work to address and close health care disparities.

“VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital and VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center remain committed to expanding access to cancer care and research across communities large and small in Virginia,” added Brar. “This clinical trial represents a significant step forward, offering the newest therapies directly to the community.”

To learn more about NCI’s NCORP, please click here. For more information about VCU Massey’s NCORP, including all of its affiliate locations, please click here.

Written by: Bill Potter