How to Find Clinical Trials Without Losing Your Mind

Finding a clinical trial can feel overwhelming. With over 15,000 active cancer trials in the United States alone, knowing where to start—let alone which trials match your specific situation—can seem impossible.

Why Clinical Trials Matter

Clinical trials offer access to cutting-edge treatments before they're widely available. For patients with specific genetic mutations, targeted therapy trials may offer options that standard treatments can't provide.

Step 1: Know Your Mutation Profile

Before searching for trials, ask your oncologist about genomic testing. Tests like Foundation One, Tempus, or Guardant can identify actionable mutations in your tumor that may make you eligible for targeted therapy trials.

Step 2: Use the Right Tools

ClinicalMatch.ai lets you filter trials by your specific mutations, saving hours of manual searching through ClinicalTrials.gov.

Step 3: Talk to Your Oncologist

Once you've found promising trials, bring them to your next appointment. Your oncologist can help assess eligibility and coordinate enrollment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't wait until you've exhausted all standard options. Many trials accept patients earlier in their treatment journey. Don't assume trials are only for "hopeless" cases—that's a myth.