Brown University Health Cancer Institute and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Working Together to Advance Cancer Treatment and Research 

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Brown University Health Cancer Institute continue their strategic alliance to advance cancer treatment and research.

This alliance, created in 2017, supports the expansion of clinical trials, access for Brown University Health physicians to cancer-specific disease expertise for complex cases, and the continuation of a highly successful program coordinating the treatment of cell therapy and transplant patients. Cellular therapies and transplants are provided in Boston at Dana-Farber and the care surrounding these procedures is provided in Providence at the Brown University Health Cancer Institute. 

The two organizations share patient information through their respective secure electronic health record systems and use the same clinical trials management platform, resulting in better care coordination.

Excellent Care, Closer to Home

Brown University Health Cancer Institute sickle cell anemia patients participated in a clinical trial sponsored by the Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute (PCORI). After bone marrow transplants, randomized patients received their post-transplant care at DFCI while the other half alternated visits between DFCI and Brown University Health. The trial’s purpose was to ensure that the outcomes post-transplant remain excellent while keeping patients closer to home.

Read WJAR's report on this clinical trial

John Reagan, MD, a hematologist-oncologist at the Brown University Health Cancer Institute commented, “We have some patients in South County that will not go north of The Towers, so needless to say, not having to travel to Boston weekly while still receiving the post-transplant care they need was really well received.”

Access to the Latest and Most Advanced Clinical Trials

A top priority of Dana-Farber and the Brown University Health Cancer Institute’s work together is the ability to offer the latest and most advanced clinical trials to patients in Rhode Island. While many of these trials are developed at and provided by Dana-Farber, opportunities exist for clinical trials to be developed at the Brown University Health Cancer Institute and offered to Dana-Farber patients. Increasing access to diverse patient populations is a common goal to help accelerate the development of new therapies. 

Other areas to be explored include genomics and precision medicine, cancer disparities, innovation in the delivery of cancer care, and potential synergies in basic research. The two organizations have collaborated on a multi-site grant application for genomics with a health disparities component.