While the importance of clinical trials has increased in all medical fields, developments of new treatments for cancer have explosively increased and the difficulty of this research has also increased.
Consequently, a clinical trials center that specializes in cancer treatment is urgently required.
To meet such research needs, SNUH established the Cancer Clinical Trials Center (CCTC), which professionally conducts only cancer clinical trials along with the opening of the Cancer Hospital in March 2011.
As the first clinical trial center solely for cancer in South Korea, the center aims to provide world-class clinical research services.
The center actively conducts domestic and international clinical trials that can open a new future for conquering cancer. In addition, the academic papers presented based on this research have boasted world-class excellence.
In particular, cancer clinical trials are actively in progress to develop new anti-cancer agents including targeted and immunotherapeutic agents as well as genetically-engineered cellular products. The researchers at SNUH participate in numerous global, multi-national clinical trials as senior researchers, orchestrating the development of new treatments for cancer.
Consequently, the center is establishing itself as an international hub of clinical trials.
Facilities
Clinical Research Ward
The ward is equipped with a total of 42 beds (18 beds and 24 couches) with intensive monitoring systems especially for early cancer clinical trials. Medication, monitoring, and collection of research data on the subjects is performed at the same place.
Pharmacy
Six experienced pharmacists in the pharmacy within the center professionally manage anti-cancer agents and cellular products for clinical trials.
To ensure the appropriateness of the storage of drugs, drugs stored at room temperature are controlled at 20-25°C at all times and three refrigerators solely for drugs and a backup refrigerator are installed for drug storage in refrigeration.
In addition, the pharmacy is equipped with an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) connection to prevent temperature failure, a 24-hour monitoring system, and two IOS5-standard biological safety cabinets (BSC) for the preparation of aseptic injections.
Core laboratory
The test room within the center is responsible for duties including the processing, storage, and transfer of blood and biospecimens from research patients and electrocardiography.
Regarding the related facilities, the core laboratory posseses low-temperature and ultra-low-temperature deep freezers to store specimens, centrifuges (at room temperature and refrigerated condition), refrigerators to store reagents, and electrocardiography devices.