AHN and START Center for Cancer Research announce a strategic collaboration to establish a new START early-phase clinical trial site within AHN's Cancer Center at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, expanding access to novel cancer therapies across western Pennsylvania.

The integration will embed early-phase oncology trials into routine care at AHN, reducing travel and participation barriers for patients in the region.

START notes its history of conducting over 1,000 early-phase trials and positions itself as the world’s largest roster of early-phase principal investigators across 15 sites.

No specific launch dates are provided beyond the announcement date of August 25, 2026.

The press release includes background information on START and AHN and lists media contacts for both organizations.

Allegheny Health Network is a 16-hospital system with a broad service mix, serving western Pennsylvania and surrounding states, and partners with multiple medical schools.

From day one, the new AHN site will be fully integrated into the START network, granting access to START’s trial portfolio at launch.

Nick Slack, START’s CEO, emphasizes blending START’s trial expertise with AHN’s infrastructure to broaden access across western Pennsylvania.

Western Pennsylvania faces a significant need for local early-phase trials, with about 89,000 new cancer cases diagnosed annually and historically limited local access.

AHN highlights its regional reach across five states—PA, OH, WV, MD, and NY—along with 24 oncology clinics and Allegheny General Hospital as the flagship site, supported by a large team of physicians and researchers.

AHN’s Cancer Center network includes more than 200 physicians and 500 oncology professionals, serving over 20,000 new patients each year and offering advanced diagnostics, genomic profiling, and robust research programs.

AHN will leverage its regional network of more than 20,000 new cancer patients annually, 24 affiliated oncology clinics, and extensive care capabilities to accelerate trial enrollment and integrate research into standard care.