The American Cancer Society aims to advance health equity in clinical trials by mitigating access, enrollment, and participation barriers. In response, ACS ACTS (Access to Clinical Trials and Support) launches on Feb. 24 to provide people with cancer with comprehensive, end-to-end support in exploring and connecting with clinical trial options tailored to their needs.
ACS ACTS’s services include clinical trial matching, education about trials, health-related social needs screening, and transportation and lodging services to access clinical trials through existing ACS programs. Caregivers and health care professionals may also access the program for clinical trial matching services on behalf of the patient.
ACS ACTS is available in the Northeast Region to individuals with any cancer type and who reside in or will travel to the following areas: Connecticut, Washington, DC, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia.
Expansion within the domestic United States is expected by the end of 2025. Individuals living outside the Northeast Region are welcome to utilize the program; however, all trials and services will be provided within the Northeast Region at this time.
ACS is partnering with Massive Bio, a biotechnology company, to offer AI-based clinical trial matching. ACS will additionally provide services, including health-related social needs screening, education, and resources, to increase equitable access to clinical trials.
By signing up for ACS ACTS, patients, caregivers, and health care providers will:
- Learn how clinical trials may fit into a patient’s treatment journey
- Explore personalized clinical trial options tailored to each patient’s specific needs
- Connect with American Cancer Society experts to help patients and families navigate the process of identifying eligible clinical trial options
- Access other American Cancer Society services and resources to overcome barriers to care such as transportation, lodging, and more
Clinical trials are research studies that test new medicines, procedures, and other treatment methods on people who choose to participate. They help to find new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. Cancer clinical trials help scientists and doctors learn if a new treatment is safe and effective for people with cancer. The cancer treatments used today were first tested in clinical trials.
How You Can Help
ACS team members can support the new ACS ACTS program by sharing information about the program launch through outreach to partners, patients, caregivers, community members, and anyone who could benefit from a clinical trial matching service.
Visit
cancer.org/acts to learn more. Interested patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals can call our National Cancer Information Center (NCIC), at 800-227-2345. For ACS ACTS
case for support, click here.
