{"id":237075,"date":"2026-07-06T16:17:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T02:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=237075"},"modified":"2026-07-07T13:27:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T23:27:12","slug":"hoola-clinical-research-center-opens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/06\/hoola-clinical-research-center-opens\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center opens Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s 1st early-phase clinical trial facility"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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UH<\/abbr>, community and government leaders celebrate the grand opening of the Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Early Phase Clinical Research Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Cancer Center launched the Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Early Phase Clinical Research Center on July 6, marking a new chapter in local cancer care as the state\u2019s first facility dedicated to early-phase clinical trials.<\/p>\n

More than 200 community leaders, partners and elected officials attended the grand opening ceremony in Kakaʻako<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Early Phase Clinical Research Center will be a new source of hope for cancer patients in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and the Pacific.
—Naoto Ueno<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The opening of the Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Early Phase Clinical Research Center marks a major milestone for cancer care in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>,” said UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center Director Naoto Ueno. “For the first time in state history, qualifying cancer patients will have the opportunity to access promising investigational therapies here in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, without traveling thousands of miles to medical centers on the U.S.<\/abbr> mainland.”<\/p>\n

Ueno, a researcher, clinical trial leader and two-time cancer survivor, said keeping patients close to their families and communities is an important part of their care journey.<\/p>\n

“These patients also will be making invaluable contributions to medical science, as early-phase clinical trials like these are how tomorrow\u2019s standard cancer treatments are developed,” Ueno said. “The Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Early Phase Clinical Research Center will be a new source of hope for cancer patients in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and the Pacific.”<\/p>\n

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UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel and community advocate Peter Hirano following the maile lei untying ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, with nearly 76,000 residents living with cancer. A recent UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center study found that Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> residents spent at least $230 million on out-of-state cancer care from 2021 to 2023<\/a>, highlighting the need to expand advanced cancer care options in the islands.<\/p>\n

Early-phase clinical trials, also known as Phase I<\/abbr> and II<\/abbr> trials, test new cancer treatments to evaluate safety, dosing and potential effectiveness. The trials follow strict safety protocols, with patients closely monitored by specially trained clinical research teams.<\/p>\n

“This facility is a powerful reminder of what can happen when government, health care, industry, and the university work together to impact our community,” said UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel.<\/p>\n

Expanding access to care<\/h2>\n

The Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> Early Phase Clinical Research Center includes dedicated patient treatment areas, specialized clinical research space, a certified pharmacy and a team trained to conduct complex early-phase studies. A pilot Phase I clinical trial is already underway, with one patient enrolled, demonstrating the center\u2019s readiness to support a growing portfolio of clinical trials.<\/p>\n

\"hula
Pre-ceremony hula by Nā<\/span> Wāhine<\/span> Hula ʻĀkala<\/span>, a cancer survivor hālau<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The goal is to have 30 active early-phase clinical trials at Hoʻ\u014dla<\/span> EPCRC<\/abbr> by 2031.<\/p>\n

“By establishing the specialized clinical research infrastructure needed to conduct early-phase studies in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, the UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center will provide opportunities for patients to participate in innovative Phase I<\/abbr> and II<\/abbr> clinical trials, while strengthening the state\u2019s role in developing tomorrow\u2019s cancer therapies,” Ueno said.<\/p>\n

The 7,500-square-foot center was supported by $19.5 million in funding, including over $1 million from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. It is operated by University Health Partners in collaboration with members of the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Cancer Consortium and statewide health care partners.<\/p>\n

“Our goal is not only to provide access to promising therapies to patients, but to ensure that discoveries and treatments are informed by the rich variety of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s unique people, so that future cancer treatments work better for everyone in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, the Pacific and worldwide,” Ueno said.<\/p>\n

Read more at the UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center launches Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>‘s first facility dedicated to early-phase clinical trials for cancer patients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":237073,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[218,1363,169,9],"class_list":["post-237075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-cancer","tag-manoa-research","tag-uh-cancer-center","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t