Community-Based Research In Oncology: Balancing Patient Centricity With Complexity In Cancer Trials

Oncology remains one of the most dynamic yet challenging areas of clinical research. Despite remarkable advances in precision medicine, immunotherapy, and targeted biologics, the path to efficient trial enrollment is still fraught with obstacles. Among the most persistent barriers is geography: many oncology trials are concentrated in large academic or urban cancer centers, limiting access for patients in smaller or rural communities. As a result, recruitment timelines often stretch, and participant diversity remains below the levels needed to generate truly representative data.

The growing adoption of decentralized and community-based research approaches may help address these limitations. By bringing clinical research closer to where patients live and receive care, sponsors and CROs can expand reach, reduce travel burdens, and engage populations historically underrepresented in cancer studies.

The need for innovation in trial design and access has never been greater. In 2024, roughly one in four new clinical trials worldwide focused on oncology — a 92% increase since 2010, according to GlobalData’s Clinical Trials Database. Yet the demand continues to outpace capacity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer projects a 77% rise in new cases between 2022 and 2050, underscoring the urgency of developing research models that can scale equitably and efficiently across diverse populations.