Early Clinical Trial Network

Early-stage clinical trials are a challenge for all of those involved. Patient safety is our utmost priority, and we ensure this through a professionally trained study team and in an environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure. In addition, sponsors expect rapid recruitment and high data quality. We are convinced that these objectives can be better achieved through an alliance of strongly performing phase I units.

Potentially severe side and/or novel effects may occur at any time in early-stage trials therefore treatment by a dedicated and experienced team of investigators and study nurses and within a safe environment is critical. These prerequisites are met at all Early Clinical Trial Units (ECTUs) within our Network. The network aims to continuously improve the quality of clinical trial conduct at all centers, in order to ensure patient safety during ongoing and future early phase trials.

As the efficacy of molecular-targeted therapeutics is often restricted to rare genetically defined subgroups, timely recruitment has become a major challenge in current early phase clinical trials. The ECT.net addresses this challenge by combining high-volume centers of excellence in hematology and oncology. By jointly treating more than 15.000 cancer patients each year, we are able to run trials for even very infrequent diseases or subgroups.

At the end of 2014, the ECTUs of the University Cancer Centers in Dresden, Munich and Wuerzburg decided to establish the Early Clinical Trial Network in close cooperation with the GWT-TUD GmbH, in order to increase the efficacy and strengthen the competitive position of the German ECTUs.

The individual ECTUs of the ECT.net are already highly valued by their industry and academic sponsors. The Network connects the feasibility and recruitment process between the sites, therefore ECT.net can guarantee to deliver trial results on time. It is possible to contract several ECTUs within the network with just one single contract between the Sponsor/CRO and the ECT.net.

ECT.net is looking for additional partner ECTUs and welcomes other cancer centers to join us in our effort to improve the quality and quantity of early phase clinical trials run in Germany. We offer assistance for the improvement of local trial handling structures and procedures. Jointly working on study projects, synergy effects can be used both at the preparation stage and implementation stage.

ECT.net is headed by a scientific board comprising representatives of each of the ECTUs and the GWT. The central contact point for sponsors is a project coordinator, who will manage negotiations with all partner ECTUs.