$4.4 Million Grant Brings Clinical Cancer Trials to Fredericksburg

Cancer is a disease that does not discriminate; it can attack anyone regardless of economic and social class. Yet, people with cancer in lower socio-economic classes often suffer from an inability to access the best, most cutting-edge care.

A $4.4 million grant awarded to the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center in August changes that for cancer patients in Fredericksburg and around the state.

The five-year, renewable grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) brings state-of-the-art clinical cancer trials to smaller communities in Virginia. For the first time, Fredericksburg cancer patients don’t need to leave the city for access to care.

About 18 clinical trials are running at Hematology–Oncology Associates of Fredericksburg, according to The Free Lance-Star. Hematology-Oncology and Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg are two of the six care centers around Virginia and Northeastern West Virginia that partnered with Massey.

The clinical trial grant pays special attention to minorities and those typically underserved medically. In order to receive grant aid, at least 30 percent of a program’s patients had to be racial minorities or rural residents, the Free Lance-Star reports.

“This grant demonstrates NCI’s recognition of the value of VCU Massey Cancer Center’s clinical trials network in including minorities, addressing cancer disparities and advancing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer,” Massey Director Gordon D. Ginder, M.D., said in a press release. “This federal support combined with the state’s support helps enable Massey to lead a statewide pursuit of research advances that will ultimately alleviate suffering from cancer.”

More than 90 physicians, 36 nurse practitioners and 21 clinics are involved in the six programs.

Read more at The Free Lance-Star.

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