Expanding access to oncology clinical trials through research capacity building at community cancer centers: A pilot training program.

131 Background: Expanding clinical trial access in community oncology settings is critical for improving access and representation in cancer research. The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) initiated a program to identify and support cancer centers that were research naïve or less experienced in oncology clinical research with regionally, racially, and ethnically diverse catchment areas. This initiative aimed to build research capacity, leveraging ACCC and Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) resources to enhance clinical trial infrastructure while fostering inclusion. Methods: A survey was deployed to ACCC members in 2022 and 2023 to understand clinical trial activity and research capacity of member programs. The survey identified programs that self-proclaimed research naivety or low capacity. Key informant interviews, conducted in mid-2024, were used to identify potential pilot sites interested in initiating or expanding their research programs. Selected sites received access to a 10-week clinical research course focused on oncology trials, participation in a collaborative online learning environment for peer-to-peer engagement, access to clinical trial tools, including implicit bias training and clinical trials glossary, as well as the ability to participate in future mentorship training for site feasibility and trial enrollment. Results: Nine pilot sites were identified, and 16 professionals completed the training course. Centers were from urban (4), suburban (3), and rural sites (2). Average research FTE per program was 1.75 and all sites had less than 10 open trials in oncology at the start of the program. Through pre- and post-intervention self-reported assessments, pilot sites reported they strongly agreed that the training: Increased understanding of clinical trial infrastructure needs and workflows for clinical trial initiation (75%). Increased understanding of methods to increase engagement of diverse patient populations in trials (83%) Heightened confidence and commitment to sustaining research activities beyond the program’s duration (90%). Conclusions: This initiative underscores the feasibility of enhancing clinical trial capacity in community oncology settings. The program provides a scalable model for fostering broader representation in cancer research while addressing barriers to clinical trial participation. Future efforts will focus on engaging pilot sites in a mentorship to conduct their first industry feasibility assessments to enroll in oncology-focused industry-sponsored trials.