NRG Oncology Health Care Access Symposium Calls on Research Community to Advance Trial Accessibility

06/22/2026

Written by Abigail Zamorano, MD

The NRG Oncology Health Care Access Committee’s 2026 virtual symposium, “Striving for Success in Clinical Trial Accessibility and Enrollment,” challenged oncology professionals to move beyond recognizing barriers to clinical trial participation and actively implement strategies that expand access for patients and research sites.

The symposium keynote was delivered by Brandy Heckman-Stoddard, PhD, MPH, Director of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program and Chief of Community Oncology and Prevention Trials. Her presentation, “The State of Scientific Affairs of NCI Clinical Trials within the NCORP,” underscored the essential role federally sponsored trials play in bringing high-quality oncology research and ultimately novel and premier oncology care to all, especially in rural and underserved communities. She highlighted NCORP’s infrastructure as a critical pathway for bringing complex multimodality trials, symptom science studies, cancer care delivery research, and quality-of-life investigations into community practice settings. Her keys to success were collaboration in and out of cooperative groups, collaboration with community investigators, and collaboration with “boots on the ground” staff, including advanced practice providers and clinical research associates.

Subsequent speakers emphasized that trial accessibility must be intentionally designed, not added later. NRG-GY036, a pragmatic phase III ovarian cancer trial evaluating one versus two years of maintenance olaparib, demonstrated how streamlined eligibility, targeted data collection, commercially available testing and therapy, and alignment with routine clinical practice can reduce burden while maintaining scientific rigor. The FORTE Trial showcased practical strategies such as remote consent, mobile phlebotomy, participant incentives, sustained site engagement, and a strong marketing and communication strategy. NRG-CC015, a mindfulness intervention for younger breast cancer survivors, reinforced the importance of digital delivery, Spanish-language access, and technology support.

The symposium’s central message was clear: every investigator, clinician, research nurse, coordinator, advocate, and site leader has a role in making trials more accessible. Reducing patient and site burden, broadening eligibility where appropriate, supporting community practices, and embedding multilingual and telehealth-enabled options can improve accrual and strengthen the representativeness of cancer research.

Attendees and non-attendees alike are encouraged to translate these lessons into action by reviewing current protocols, identifying avoidable participation barriers, engaging community partners early, and championing trial designs that meet patients where they are. Expanding access is not only a research priority—it is an obligation to ensure that advances in cancer care reach the communities most in need.

To view the recording: Click here (login required)