START Center for Cancer Research has appointed Neel Belani, MD, MBA, as Clinical Investigator at its New Jersey site. Dr Belani will conduct early-phase oncology trials and expand patient access to clinical studies in the region. Dr Belani is a board-certified medical oncologist specialising in thoracic oncology and early-phase research. He previously served as Principal Investigator on multiple trials and Sub-Investigator on over 200 Phase 1 studies. He completed his fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center and holds degrees from Rutgers. START New Jersey operates through a collaboration with Astera Cancer Care, serving an addressable population of 10 million with approximately 150,000 new cancer cases annually. The appointment strengthens START's global network of community-based research sites focused on accelerating oncology drug development.

START research expands clinical leadership with appointment of Dr. Neel Belani as Clinical Investigator at START New Jersey. PR Newswire Today at 5:01am PDT Strengthening clinical research capabilities in one of the nation's most densely populated and high-opportunity oncology markets EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J., April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - The START Center for Cancer Research ("START"), the world's largest community-based network of clinical trial sites specializing in early-phase oncology trials, today announced the appointment of Neel Belani, MD, MBA, as Clinical Investigator at START New Jersey. In this role, Dr. Belani will conduct leading clinical trials and further expand access to early-phase oncology studies for patients across the region, returning to his home state of New Jersey where he began his medical training. Dr. Belani joins START through its collaboration with Astera Cancer Care, a leading oncology practice and partner within the OneOncology network. START New Jersey is strategically positioned to serve a large and diverse patient population, with an estimated 10 million addressable population, approximately 150,000 new cancer cases annually, and more than 12,000 new patients within the partner practice each year, providing a strong foundation for early-phase clinical trial access and enrollment. "Dr. Belani represents the next generation of clinical research leadership - bringing both deep scientific expertise and a strong commitment to patient-centered care," said Nick Slack, MBE, Chief Executive Officer of START. "His experience in early-phase trials, combined with his track record of high-quality trial execution and patient care, strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality studies and accelerate access to innovative therapies for patients." Dr. Belani is a board-certified medical oncologist with a strong focus on thoracic oncology and early-phase clinical research. Prior to joining START, he was an attending oncologist and clinical investigator, serving as a Principal Investigator on multiple clinical trials and a Sub-Investigator on more than 200 Phase 1 studies. He completed his hematology and oncology fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University, and his internal medicine residency at Brown University. Dr. Belani earned his MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and holds an MBA from Rutgers Business School, bringing a unique perspective that bridges clinical care, research, and healthcare systems. "I'm excited to join START and be part of a network that is redefining how early-phase oncology research is delivered," said Dr. Belani. "Expanding access to clinical trials in the community setting is critical to ensuring more patients have the opportunity to benefit from innovative therapies, and I look forward to working alongside this team to advance that mission." START New Jersey operates in collaboration with Astera Cancer Care and is supported by a dedicated oncology research team and infrastructure, enabling efficient study start-up and high-quality trial execution. Dr. Belani will work closely with Director of Clinical Research at START New Jersey, Dr. Bruno S. Fang, as well as a multidisciplinary clinical and research team, to expand the site's capabilities and accelerate enrollment in early-phase studies. "Dr. Belani's experience in early-phase clinical trials and his commitment to advancing translational research make him an outstanding addition to our team," said Chris Takimoto, MD, PhD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer of START. "As the complexity of oncology drug development continues to evolve, strong clinical leadership at the site level is essential to ensure we are bringing the right therapies to patients efficiently and safely." With this appointment, START continues to strengthen its global network of community-based research sites, focused on accelerating drug development and expanding access to clinical trials for patients worldwide. About The START Center for Cancer Research Deeply rooted in community oncology centers globally, The START Center for Cancer Research provides access to specialized preclinical and early-phase clinical trials of novel anti-cancer agents. START clinical trial sites have conducted more than 1,000 early-phase clinical trials, including for more than 50 therapies that were approved by the FDA or EMA. START represents the world's largest roster of early-phase principal investigators across its global network of clinical trial sites. Committed to accelerating the development of new cancer therapies, START delivers hope to patients, families, and physicians around the world. Learn more at STARTresearch.com. SOURCE The START Center for Cancer Research This is a paid placement. For further inquiries, please contact PR Newswire directly.

The START Center for Cancer Research has appointed Dr Salwan Al Mutar as Director of Clinical Research at its Dallas-Fort Worth location. Dr Al Mutar will lead clinical research operations and support early-phase oncology programme expansion across North Texas. Dr Al Mutar joins from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where he served as Assistant Professor in Hematology/Oncology and attending physician at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. His expertise spans gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly pancreatic cancer and biomarker-driven therapies. START is the world's largest community-based network of clinical trial sites specialising in early-phase oncology trials. The Dallas-Fort Worth region diagnoses approximately 40,000 new cancer cases annually, providing access to a large patient population for clinical research.