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Bringing Cutting-Edge Care to Community Oncology
Bringing Cutting-Edge Care to Community Oncology
At the end of 2022, Linda was willing to try anything. She trusted her doctors. They had caught it early. And despite her ongoing exhaustion, she had made it to every single appointment since her diagnosis nearly two years prior. But her now stage 3 breast cancer wasn’t responding to the usual treatments.
When her physicians at the American Oncology Network (AON) community oncology practice told her about a clinical trial she qualified for, she didn’t hesitate. It was the opportunity she had been waiting for—a chance to reclaim her life and her focus on the three young children who needed her. Now, in addition to the standard treatment options, Linda is utilizing investigational treatments that may improve her chances for a successful outcome.
For AON, clinical research is more than an opportunity—it’s a commitment to bringing cuttingedge, investigational treatments to patients like Linda in community oncology settings. The AON Research team works diligently to support providers, enhance patient care, and ensure that innovative therapies are accessible to those who need them most.
What Does AON Research Do?
AON Research provides the expertise and resources to help oncology practices launch or expand clinical trials. By integrating research into community-based settings, AON ensures that patients can access investigational therapies close to home while providers gain valuable opportunities to participate in leading-edge studies.
How AON Research Supports Practices
AON offers a range of tailored solutions to help practices navigate the complexities of clinical trials:
Regulatory & Compliance Support
Centralized management of regulatory submissions and documentation, including an integrated electronic Investigator Site File (eISF) for seamless tracking.
Advanced Patient Recruitment
Utilizing trial-matching technology and feasibility assessments to streamline patient enrollment.
Marketing & Community Engagement
Promoting research opportunities within the medical and scientific communities.
Financial & Legal Guidance
Managing contracts, compliance, and optimizing revenue cycles through the Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS).
Quality & Education
Standardizing standard operating procedures (SOPs), providing audit support, and ensuring regulatory compliance across research sites.
Why It Matters
By expanding clinical trial access in local oncology practices, AON Research is improving patient outcomes, advancing oncology care, and positioning community-based providers at the forefront of medical innovation. Through these efforts, AON is not only strengthening research capabilities but also shaping the future of cancer treatment—one trial at a time.
AON Research in Action
“We began offering Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute patients access to clinical trials through AON’s clinical research program three years ago,” said Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute Research Manager Laura Sellers. “AON’s regulatory and compliance expertise helped us launch the program, and the ongoing support we’ve received has allowed us to continue expanding while ensuring our providers remain focused on patient care rather than paperwork. Currently, we have 11 patients enrolled in trials, and we’re able to continually increase that number based on patient need—without expertise or resource constraints—because AON handles the regulatory submissions and documentation on our behalf.”
What Has AON Research Been Up to Lately?
At the end of 2023, AON began investing in centralized clinical research infrastructure to support network practices. The expansion of central research services strengthens clinical trial operations by centralizing regulatory processes, data submissions, contract negotiations, and budget management. Streamlining these critical functions improves efficiency, reduces administrative burdens on individual sites, and accelerates study start-up timelines.
In addition to administrative efficiencies, the expansion incorporates enhanced patient screening through trial-matching software, improving recruitment and enrollment rates. Leveraging AI-driven tools and electronic health record (EHR) integrations allows research teams to identify eligible participants more effectively, reducing recruitment timelines and increasing trial diversity. Standardized SOPs further support operational consistency across trials, ensuring adherence to best practices and regulatory requirements. These enhancements collectively position research institutions for greater scalability, improved sponsor collaboration, and the ability to conduct complex, multi-site studies with greater precision and reliability.
Clinical trials are essential to advancing cancer treatment, yet many patients face barriers to participation. Expanding support services such as regulatory oversight, data management, and financial administration reduces the burden on providers and ensures practices can offer more trials, giving additional patients access to innovative therapies that could change lives.
447 New patients participated in clinical trials at AON practices in 2024
148 Studies are currently open for enrollment through AON practices
111 Active studies are currently open with different study sponsors
123 AON patients are currently participating in clinical trials
Review AON clinical trial offerings here.
How Can My Practice Get Involved?
For more information about AON Research and how your practice can participate, contact Katie Goodman, vice president of clinical research, at Katie.Goodman@AONcology.com
