Clinical Studies

Clinical studies are research studies that test or observe how well medical approaches work in people. Some clinical studies, also called clinical trials, test new treatments, such as new drugs or other therapies. These studies help researchers learn if a new treatment is effective or less harmful than standard treatments.

Other clinical studies, called observational studies, do not involve testing new treatments. They are designed to gather information about a disease, understand it better, and improve patient outcomes. They may include medical exams, tests, and questionnaires. 

Patients can consider participating in a clinical trial or observational study through the NCI-CONNECT Clinic at any point, from the time of diagnosis through recurrence. The NCI-CONNECT Clinic is located at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and led by the NCI Center for Cancer Research’s Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB). Patients at the NIH Clinical Center consent to participate in research studies (protocols) and are treated without charge. NIH does not bill for any services. Patients can also receive support for travel expenses, food, lodging and outpatient treatment. 

If you are interested in participating in any of our clinical studies for adults with rare central nervous system (CNS) cancers, have your doctor contact us to discuss the best options for your care. Please understand that we are not accepting self-referrals or international patients at this time, but your care remains our top priority.

Treatment Trials

Patients can participate in the treatment trials listed below by visiting the NCI-CONNECT Clinic at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, for an evaluation and to determine if they are eligible. All treatments are administered at NIH or participating partner sites.