Strengthening clinical research capabilities in one of the nation’s most densely populated and high-opportunity oncology markets
East Brunswick, NJ — April 30, 2026 — 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.
