Cancer treatment and research network US Oncology has established a contract research organization (CRO), formalizing many of the CRO services that the organization already provided.

US Oncology Clinical Development will provide oncology-specific CRO support for phase I to phase IV clinical trials, including physician advisory boards, safety data collection and regulatory submission, medical writing and protocol development, biostatistics, site selection and payments, and central institution review board (IRB).

"We have built an experienced team that enhances our ability to serve our clients for all of their oncology clinical trial needs," said Steve Smith, vice president and general manager of Research and Personalized Science for US Oncology, in a company statement. “We will leverage all of the strengths of the US Oncology network and its proven history of accrual performance and commitment to quality."