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BASO Clinical Trial Sponsorship

Advancing Independent Cancer Research

British Association of Surgical Oncology (BASO~ACS) aims to advance high-quality research in cancer care. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, we established the BASO-Rosetrees research grants which are  highly successful as seed funding for feasibility research projects in surgical oncology, which are also recognised on the UK national research portfolio. BASO is also committed to pursuing well-conducted large cohort and randomised clinical trials that will lead to changing practice in surgical oncology. This led to the establishment of a Sponsorship platform for BASO to act as Sponsor for selected, high quality surgical oncology trials directly contributing to improving the evidence-based practice for patients with cancer.


Why Sponsorship Matters

BASO is ideally positioned to extend its commitment to research in surgical oncology, to acting as Sponsor of important surgical oncology studies. By acting as Sponsor, BASO can help bring scientifically robust, patient-focused studies to completion — particularly those that are academically led and those are challenged by prioritisation of commercially funded trials, which can lead to significant barriers to securing institutional backing.

Randomised clinical trials remain the gold standard in evaluating cancer treatments and studies being considered for Sponsorship, will usually be managed by a Surgical Intervention Trials Unit, affiliated to the Royal College of Surgeons of England network.


What Sponsorship Involves

Sponsorship is a vital governance role that includes:

  • Regulatory Responsibility
    Taking overall responsibility for the initiation, management, and oversight of the clinical trial.
  • Trial Conduct Oversight
    Ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, ethical standards, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
    This responsibility is typically delegated to a reputable Clinical Trials Unit (CTU).
  • Indemnity and Insurance
    Securing appropriate indemnity coverage through a reputable insurance provider to safeguard participants and investigators.

This model mirrors the approach commonly undertaken by universities and major academic institutions.


Current Sponsorship Opportunity

We currently have an opportunity to initiate this platform with a important, large cohort or randomised clinical trial in cancer care that will be managed by a Surgical Interventional Trials team and led by a surgeon:

  • A Sponsor is required to support trial oversight and governance prior to grant application
  • A protocol and funding are available, but Sponsorship is sought from BASO
  • The study is now in the post-recruitment follow-up phase and requires a new Sponsor for long-term follow up

This represents a low-risk, high-impact opportunity to demonstrate BASO’s leadership in supporting independent, practice-changing research.


Our Commitment

By establishing a structured Clinical Trials Sponsorship Platform, BASO aims to:

  • Enable high-quality, investigator-led cancer trials
  • Strengthen academic and investigator-led research
  • Improve treatment standards through robust evidence
  • Support collaboration between surgeons, oncologists, and research institutions

Enquiries and Expressions of Interest

For further information regarding sponsorship opportunities, or to submit your Expression of Interest form,  please contact the BASO Office:

Email: rattandeepjhita@baso.org.uk

Please note that, once a proposal has been approved for sponsorship by the BASO Executive Committee, a sponsorship fee will be applicable.