City of Hope Launches Transformative National Clinical Trials Network

City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading cancer research and treatment organizations, has unveiled a new national clinical trials model aimed at accelerating discovery and expanding access to life-saving therapies. This first-of-its-kind system allows the Duarte-based institution to open and manage trials simultaneously across its 37 sites nationwide—including locations in Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago, Atlanta, and Phoenix.

At the center of this initiative is a centralized, digitally connected hub that streamlines trial activation, patient enrollment, and data management. By removing the bottlenecks that traditionally slow the research pipeline, City of Hope can now bring cutting-edge treatments to patients faster and more equitably.

“This new model ensures that patients, regardless of zip code, have access to innovative therapies and the possibility of new hope,” said Edward Kim, MD, MBA, vice physician-in-chief at City of Hope.

Early Momentum

Already, nine clinical trials are underway across 12 City of Hope sites, focused on solid tumors and blood cancers. Industry partnerships are fueling this momentum—Eli Lilly is among the early collaborators—and enrollment has exceeded expectations, a strong signal that the model is resonating with patients and providers alike.

What This Means for Physicians in Los Angeles

For physicians practicing in Los Angeles, this expansion represents far more than increased trial availability—it signals new opportunities for collaboration, referrals, and direct involvement in groundbreaking research.

• Broader Access for Patients

  Patients who previously would have needed to travel out of state—or even across the country—can now be enrolled in national trials closer to home. This creates an important touchpoint for physicians to expand treatment options for their patients while keeping care local.

• Closer Ties to Research Networks

  The centralized hub creates new opportunities for Los Angeles-based physicians to engage directly with multi-site studies. From patient referrals to sub-investigator roles, community physicians can participate in research without the administrative hurdles of coordinating multi-institutional trials.

• Accelerated Path to Innovation

  By shortening the time between trial conception and patient enrollment, this model speeds up the entire cycle of discovery. Los Angeles physicians can offer their patients access to novel therapies years earlier than under traditional models.

• Reinforcing LA’s Global Leadership

  Los Angeles is already home to a robust life sciences ecosystem. City of Hope’s new model reinforces the region’s position as a leader in translational medicine and cancer research—inviting local physicians, health systems, and academic centers to deepen collaboration.

A National Model with Local Impact

For more than 110 years, City of Hope has been committed to advancing cancer treatment and delivering compassionate care. With this bold new clinical trials model, that mission now extends to patients across the nation—while reaffirming Los Angeles as a hub where scientific innovation and patient care intersect.

As the trials expand, physicians across specialties will play an essential role: connecting patients to opportunities, collaborating on research design and implementation, and helping translate discoveries into everyday clinical practice.

The message is clear: the future of cancer care is not confined to academic centers or urban hubs—it’s distributed, connected, and driven by collaboration. And Los Angeles physicians are poised to be at the forefront.