Our participation in the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) network, created by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), means that our oncologists have access to the very latest cancer prevention and treatment research and can use this knowledge to help patients.
The Duluth CCOP offers many of the same trials available at other leading facilities in the Twin Cities and at the Mayo Clinic. We run more than 100 clinical trials, including prevention, cancer control and treatment trials, which are reviewed by experts at the national level and are sponsored by either the National Cancer Institute or leading pharmaceutical companies.
Experience in clinical trials makes for better results. In 1984, SMDC Cancer Center (now part of Essentia Health) pioneered cooperative group clinical trials in the Northland by joining the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) as a founding member at the invitation of Mayo Clinic.
Participants in our clinical trials can stay close to their families while receiving the best care available. The Duluth CCOP research team also works closely with staff at Essentia Health clinics to ensure study participants receive the same treatments at all our facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
