Northwell brings on group with expertise in early-stage cancer treatment trials
Nick Slack, CEO of The START Center for Cancer Research, plans to begin working at Northwell’s Zuckerberg Cancer Center in early 2025. Credit: The START Center for Cancer Research
Northwell Health is partnering with a group that specializes in early-stage cancer treatment trials, and aiming to launch the joint venture in New Hyde Park in early 2025.
Northwell, New York's largest health care system, announced Friday it has formed a partnership with The START Center for Cancer Research, a group that monitors potential treatments discovered by pharmaceutical firms and organizes clinical trials to evaluate them. START is based in San Antonio, Texas, and runs clinical trials there, as well as in Utah, Michigan and five locations in Europe, a spokeswoman said.
The pharmaceutical industry tends to run clinical trials at facilities that are designated as cancer centers by the National Cancer Institute, the federal government's arm for cancer research and training, according to Dr. Richard Barakat, executive director of the Northwell Cancer Institute. Northwell has had a harder time attracting the pharmaceutical sector's attention, he said. While Barakat's team works to obtain the NCI designation, he believes the partnership will allow more of the 19,000 new cancer patients they see annually to access clinical trials.
"[START] has a group of investigators who are very used to working on these types of trials,” Barakat said. “This is really going to ramp up the number of early phase trials that Northwell is conducting and make us, probably, one of the largest providers of these innovative early phase trials.”
“START’s mission to bring the hope of early phase clinical trials to all communities globally aligns perfectly with Northwell's commitment to raising the standard of health care for all,” Nick Slack, chairman and CEO of The START Center for Cancer Research, said in a statement.
The joint venture is expected to start operating in the Zuckerberg Cancer Center in New Hyde Park in early 2025 and have about 15 employees working on 30 to 40 clinical trials by the end of the first year, Barakat said. Northwell aims to bring START on site at a medical pavilion it plans to open on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 2026 and host a total of 100 clinical trials within five years, he said.
Barakat noted that clinical trails may appeal to patients who have cancer recur after going through traditional treatments. About 15 to 30 patients are typically admitted to the first phase of a clinical trail, he said. The partnership will focus on many types of cancers, mutations in tumors and potential treatments.
Both organizations declined to share financial details of the deal. Barakat said both institutions would be investing capital and staff in the partnership.
Northwell Health is partnering with a group that specializes in early-stage cancer treatment trials, and aiming to launch the joint venture in New Hyde Park in early 2025.
Northwell, New York's largest health care system, announced Friday it has formed a partnership with The START Center for Cancer Research, a group that monitors potential treatments discovered by pharmaceutical firms and organizes clinical trials to evaluate them. START is based in San Antonio, Texas, and runs clinical trials there, as well as in Utah, Michigan and five locations in Europe, a spokeswoman said.
The pharmaceutical industry tends to run clinical trials at facilities that are designated as cancer centers by the National Cancer Institute, the federal government's arm for cancer research and training, according to Dr. Richard Barakat, executive director of the Northwell Cancer Institute. Northwell has had a harder time attracting the pharmaceutical sector's attention, he said. While Barakat's team works to obtain the NCI designation, he believes the partnership will allow more of the 19,000 new cancer patients they see annually to access clinical trials.
"[START] has a group of investigators who are very used to working on these types of trials,” Barakat said. “This is really going to ramp up the number of early phase trials that Northwell is conducting and make us, probably, one of the largest providers of these innovative early phase trials.”
“START’s mission to bring the hope of early phase clinical trials to all communities globally aligns perfectly with Northwell's commitment to raising the standard of health care for all,” Nick Slack, chairman and CEO of The START Center for Cancer Research, said in a statement.
The joint venture is expected to start operating in the Zuckerberg Cancer Center in New Hyde Park in early 2025 and have about 15 employees working on 30 to 40 clinical trials by the end of the first year, Barakat said. Northwell aims to bring START on site at a medical pavilion it plans to open on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 2026 and host a total of 100 clinical trials within five years, he said.
Barakat noted that clinical trails may appeal to patients who have cancer recur after going through traditional treatments. About 15 to 30 patients are typically admitted to the first phase of a clinical trail, he said. The partnership will focus on many types of cancers, mutations in tumors and potential treatments.
Both organizations declined to share financial details of the deal. Barakat said both institutions would be investing capital and staff in the partnership.
Sarina Trangle covers affordability and cost of living issues and other business topics. She previously worked as an editor and reporter at amNewYork.
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