As we reflect on the past year, I want to thank our investigators, sites, funders, and the entire Hoosier Cancer Research Network team for your continued commitment to investigator-initiated cancer research.
This year brought significant changes to clinical research. Uncertainty surrounding the amount of federal funding for medical research led universities to shift resources, and proposed changes to tariffs and product pricing led industry funders to narrow their trial priorities. Investigators had to adapt quickly and think creatively. In the face of these changes, the strength of our network, the resilience of our investigators, and the dedication of our team allowed HCRN to remain focused on supporting high-quality, investigator-initiated studies.
Despite the challenges, we made meaningful progress together. We are supporting 28 trials open to enrollment at 19 institutions, which are funded by 20 industry, government, and philanthropic funders. Over the course of the year, we engaged with our 27 disease-focused programs across HCRN and the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.
A major highlight of the year was the release of HCRN’s IIT report, which captured the scope, impact, and growth of IIT activity across our network and highlighted the current opportunities and challenges of our investigator community.
We know that progress in clinical research requires a coordinated effort of many team members working together. I am proud of our dedicated staff who, day in and day out, put in the hard work that leads us closer to our goal of opening, executing, and completing clinical trials that make a difference in the lives of patients.
As we look ahead, I am encouraged by the momentum we are carrying into the new year. Continued collaboration, strong investigator engagement, and a shared commitment to investigator-initiated research position HCRN for what’s next. Thank you for your partnership, trust, and dedication. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Brian Stemme
CEO of Hoosier Cancer Research Network
