Reflecting on Clinical Trials Day 2026 at Moores Cancer Center

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On May 20, 2026, Moores Cancer Center welcomed staff, patients, patient families, and community members for its annual Clinical Trials Day celebration, honoring the dedicated teams behind the Clinical Trials Office (CTO) and the lifesaving research they help make possible. Observed each year, Clinical Trials Day commemorates the anniversary of the first recorded clinical trial and serves as a moment to recognize the research professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring innovative treatments to patients. At Moores Cancer Center, the day has grown into a cherished tradition, an opportunity for the clinical trials and oncology community to come together, reflect on the progress made, listen to patient testimonies and celebrate the people who make it all possible.

This year's celebration centered on two core purposes: recognizing the Clinical Trials Office staff and clinical research professionals whose work powers every aspect of a trial, from enrollment and coordination to safety monitoring and patient support and amplifying the voices of patients whose lives have been changed by access to innovative research. The event brought together the broader community to honor that dedication and reaffirm the vital role clinical trials play in advancing cancer care.

The celebration began with opening remarks from Diane M. Simeone, MD, Director of Moores Cancer Center, who thanked the many teams behind clinical research efforts and recognized their essential role in bringing innovative treatments to patients. Her remarks set the tone for an afternoon of gratitude, reflection and inspiration.

A powerful patient panel followed the welcoming remarks given by CTO leaders, Dr. Ramez Eskander, CTO Medical Director, Joyce Nancarrow Tull, CTO Senior Administrative Director, and Dr. Rana McKay, Associate Direct of Clinical Science. These leaders began the panel by expressing gratitude to the CTO staff and patients. UCSD MCC Clinical trial patients Austin Smith, Kathleen Fahlsing and Lynn Tsai served as panelists, sharing their personal cancer journeys and reflecting on the role clinical trials played in their care.

Austin Smith came to UC San Diego Health after exhausting standard treatment options closer to his home in Phoenix, having been diagnosed with stage IV gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a rare and difficult-to-treat cancer. He connected with Dr. Jason Sicklick and Dr. Adam Burgoyne, who enrolled him in a clinical trial involving temozolomide (TMZ). The trial produced remarkable results, with significant tumor shrinkage that made a complex surgery possible. Austin credits the trial with giving him a path forward when few remained.

Kathleen Fahlsing, a patient with recurrent ovarian cancer, described herself as someone who deeply researches every available option. That determination led her to learn about genetic testing, targeted therapies and the emerging landscape of clinical trials, ultimately connecting her with Dr. Ramez Eskander and the decision to enroll in an industry-sponsored trial evaluating an investigational targeted therapy. Supported throughout by her clinical trials team, she has tolerated therapy well, with fewer lasting side effects than prior treatments. 

Lynn Tsai was diagnosed with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC), a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer. After connecting with Dr. Rana McKay and her team, she enrolled in an NCI-sponsored trial evaluating a combination therapy for advanced HLRCC-associated kidney cancer and has experienced approximately 20% tumor shrinkage since starting treatment. In a testament to her progress, Lynn has been training for her first half marathon while on treatment.

Across all three stories, a common theme emerged: the profound difference made not only by access to innovative therapies, but by the people who stand alongside patients throughout the journey. Each panelist spoke to the compassion, coordination and encouragement they received from their care teams, reinforcing that behind every clinical trial is a network of dedicated professionals committed to making the experience as supported and hopeful as possible.

The day concluded with a celebration of the CTO staff, where attendees came together to recognize the coordinators, project managers, regulatory specialists, and all the researchprofessionals who support and make clinical trials possible. Their work, often unseen by the broader public, is the foundation upon which every breakthrough is built.

Clinical Trials Day 2026 was a powerful reminder that clinical trials are not simply a pathway to new treatments, they are a testament to what becomes possible when dedicated teams, visionary researchers and courageous patients come together in pursuit of a potential new treatment discovery. At Moores Cancer Center, that pursuit is ongoing, and the lives changed along the way are proof of its importance.