Eastern Health has opened Canada’s very first Clinical Research Satellite Site in Grand Falls-Winsor to allow prostate cancer patients to participate in a clinical trial for a new treatment.

The site is part of the Canadian Remote Access Framework for Clinical Trials and will initially serve as a satellite site for the PRIME clinical trial which is run out of the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre in St. John’s.

It is studying Metformin as a treatment to prevent metabolic syndrome in prostate cancer patients. Qualifying patients will be physically assessed at the Grand Falls-Windsor clinic, including bloodwork and follow-up care, eliminating the need to travel to St. John’s.

The study physician will access patients through virtual appointments.