A world leader in developing lifesaving treatments for cancer and home to many of the major breakthroughs in cancer research and care, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is at the forefront of scientific investigation. Its mission is to find better ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and HIV-related illnesses. To do so, NCI treats thousands of people each year through its clinical studies program.

Clinical Trials at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD

The Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI’s largest division doing research on campus, conducts clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The Clinical Center is a state-of-the-art research hospital where investigators take a “bench-to-bedside” approach, applying the latest laboratory discoveries to the care and treatment of cancer patients. As a result, patients participating in trials at the Clinical Center typically are more closely monitored than they would be at other hospitals and health-care centers. In addition, the study team encourages collaboration with referring physicians, patient advocates, and other community-based health-care professionals. Finally, since NCI is a federally funded institution, patients enrolled in clinical studies at the Clinical Center incur no costs for study-related medical services.

Learn About NCI Clinical Trials
Everything you need to know about NCI clinical trials: where to find help, how to join, physician referrals, frequently asked questions, and costs.