The Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN) has received funding to establish Network sites across Canada and to launch an online service to help patients find clinical trials.

The funding comes from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership), the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) and CancerCare Manitoba. These contributions are the first from 3CTN's coalition of cancer research funding organizations. 3CTN is in the process of finalizing additional funding commitments.

The funding will establish the Network's sites at cancer centers conducting clinical trials across Canada. Network sites will receive financial support and other resources to be able to increase trials available to patients. 3CTN also has launched a new online service that will assist patients and clinicians in finding cancer clinical trials that may be of benefit.

"This funding is great news for Canada's cancer clinical trials infrastructure, which is essential for bringing the most promising therapies and technologies to the clinic," said Dr. Tom Hudson, president and scientific director of OICR. "Connecting patients to clinical trials is important in moving the science forward, but also allows us to provide avenues of treatment for those patients who have exhausted standard treatment options."

3CTN is a pan-Canadian initiative to improve patient access to trials and the efficiency and quality of clinical trials activities in Canada. Its aim is to provide support and coordination for a network of teams at cancer treatment centers and hospitals and enable the sites to increase their capacity and capability to conduct academic trials and increase access for patients to participate in trials.

Seven Network Regional Coordinating Centers and 15 Network Cancer Centers will be established by 3CTN with the funding. In the future 3CTN will expand to include many Network Affiliated Cancer Centers. Currently 3CTN has 229 clinical trials in its portfolio including 60 pediatric trials, with more to be added as they are ready to be opened for patients. These academic trials supported by 3CTN reflect the priorities of clinicians, researchers, patients, ministries of health and funders.