Thumbs Up for the New Phase I Clinical Trials Unit

"I come every week, at least once a week, and some are 12-hour days," says Paulette "Alex" Alexander, who's on a phase I clinical trial for metastatic ovarian cancer.

The environment she spends those long days in matters a lot, and recently she got a nice surprise walking into Winship's new Phase I Clinical Trials Unit.

"This place is impressive, it's more private. It was well thought out," says Alexander, pictured (above) with nurse Monica Goodman.

Construction started in the summer of 2018 and on January 7, 2019, physicians and nurses in the new unit started treating patients. Alexander was one of the patients there that first day.

The new unit, on the fourth floor of the Emory University Hospital Tower, is triple the size of the original unit and expands access for patients to the critical first phase of testing new cancer therapies. It was designed by the people who use it – patients, nurses, physicians, research staff, pharmacists – so that it's functional and comfortable. The new facility features specially-designed furniture, like heated treatment chairs, and treatment bays with full length windows that provide light as well as campus and skyline views.

"Thank you for the heated seats, that's a nice thing!" said Tom Broyles, a Phase I patient being treated for renal cell cancer, who was also there the day the new unit opened (above).

Alexander, Broyles, other patients, and many enthusiastic staff members cut a ribbon to inaugurate the new facility (below).