We've compiled every major national assistance programme for oncology trial patients — transport, lodging, financial support, and decentralised trial platforms that reduce or eliminate travel entirely. All free or low-cost. Updated 2026.
Non-profit organisations offering free transport, driver networks, and general patient navigation for oncology trial participants.
Lazarex reimburses patients for travel and lodging expenses incurred to participate in FDA Phase I–III oncology clinical trials. They cover airfare, hotel, mileage, ground transport, and meals — a cash reimbursement model that works retroactively on submitted receipts. One of the few programmes that explicitly focuses on Phase I–III oncology trials.
The ACS Road to Recovery programme provides free rides to cancer treatment — including clinical trial visits — through a volunteer driver network. Available in many communities across the US. Patients can also access 24/7 support through the ACS cancer helpline.
CancerCare provides limited financial assistance for transportation and other costs — co-pays, childcare, home care — for cancer patients. Grants are limited per person but can be renewed. CancerCare also provides free professional counselling and navigation support, which helps patients identify multiple funding sources.
PAF provides direct financial aid through disease-specific co-pay relief funds and patient financial aid grants. They help patients access specific trial-related and treatment-related financial support across oncology. Their case management team actively navigates patients through insurance disputes, appeals, and access to assistance programmes.
HealthWell provides financial assistance to underinsured and uninsured patients, including grants for clinical trial insurance co-payments and medical costs. They operate disease-specific funds — several are oncology-focused — and also offer assistance for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
For patients with rare cancers — sarcomas, rare solid tumours, rare haematologic malignancies — NORD administers patient assistance programmes that include travel grants for clinical trial participation. Particularly relevant for patients whose trial sites are geographically remote due to the rarity of the condition.
Free or deeply subsidised lodging for patients and families travelling to trial sites — particularly for multi-day or multi-week visit schedules.
Hope Lodge offers free temporary housing to cancer patients and their caregivers when they need to travel away from home for treatment, including clinical trial visits. The ACS operates over 30 Hope Lodge locations nationwide — primarily near major cancer centres. Patients stay for as long as treatment continues and the accommodation is needed.
Joe's House is the largest online directory of lodging options near cancer treatment centres across the US, listing over 3,500 properties. Many facilities offer significantly reduced rates or free nights for cancer patients. Joe's House acts as a search engine rather than a direct provider — patients find and book lodging via the platform, often at rates 25–50% below commercial pricing.
While primarily known for paediatric patients, many RMHC chapters have expanded adult cancer patient programmes. Some chapters serve adult oncology patients whose children are also being treated, or have dedicated adult patient housing nearby. Availability varies significantly by chapter — check with your trial site's social work team about local RMHC options.
Airbnb.org partners with ACS and other cancer organisations to offer free short-term stays to cancer patients travelling for treatment. Hosts voluntarily donate their properties. This can be especially useful for patients at trial sites in cities without a Hope Lodge. Access typically comes through the partnering organisation's referral.
DCT platforms reduce or eliminate the need for patient travel by bringing trial visits to the patient — through home nursing, remote monitoring, local lab draws, and telemedicine. For patients matched to a DCT-enabled trial, these platforms can be the most effective “travel assistance” of all.
Cloud-based DCT platform supporting remote patient monitoring, ePRO, eConsent, and telemedicine visit orchestration. Widely used by large pharma in oncology Phase II–III trials.
Science 37 specialises in fully virtual trials, providing in-home nursing, mobile phlebotomy, and digital site management — enabling patients to participate without leaving home in select protocols.
Lightship delivers hybrid decentralised trial services, combining a US-wide home visit nurse network with remote monitoring technology — particularly active in rare disease and oncology studies.
Veeva's SiteConnect module enables hybrid trial architectures — patients complete visits at any connected site, reducing the need to travel to a single sponsoring centre.
Syneos Health offers CRO-delivered DCT capabilities integrated within their trial management services — including home nursing, remote visits, and local lab partnerships.
Castor provides eClinical data capture and survey tools, often used in hybrid trials to collect patient-reported outcomes and remote data without requiring site visits for every assessment.
Note for patients: DCT platforms are chosen by the sponsor and CRO running the trial — patients cannot independently select a DCT platform. However, you can ask your trial site coordinator whether the trial offers any remote visit options, home nursing, or local lab draw alternatives. Our team can help you identify DCT-enabled trials that match your biomarker profile.
Many pharmaceutical companies that sponsor oncology trials offer their own patient assistance programmes covering travel, co-pays, and investigational drug access. Availability changes frequently — check directly with the sponsoring company or trial site coordinator.
Offers patient support for Genentech oncology products including travel assistance for trial participation in some programmes. Access depends on specific trial protocol and insurance status.
Visit Genentech →AZ's patient services platform for oncology products. For sponsored AZ trials, trial site coordinators can request travel stipend information through Access 360 support teams.
Visit AZ →BMS sponsors immuno-oncology trials (Opdivo, Yervoy, Breyanzi, Abecma) and offers patient assistance through MyBMS, which can include trial-related support navigators.
Visit BMS →Merck's Helpful Answers programme provides access support for Keytruda and other oncology products, and can assist patients navigating trial-related financial questions for Merck-sponsored studies.
Visit Merck →Pfizer's Oncology Together programme provides personalised support for patients on Pfizer oncology therapies and, for sponsored trials, can connect patients with financial assistance resources including travel.
Visit Pfizer →Novartis sponsors CAR-T (Kymriah), targeted therapies, and radioligand trials. Their patient support programmes include assistance for patients undergoing cell therapy — including logistical support for complex treatment journeys.
Visit Novartis →