A clinical trial is a type of research study that tests new medicines, treatments, or approaches to care. The goal is to find out if they are safe and effective for people.

Each trial has specific rules called “eligibility criteria.” These might include age, type of condition, stage of illness, or previous treatments.  These criteria can be very detailed, meaning that even if a trial looks suitable for you on the face of it, you may not be able to take part due to some specific inclusion or exclusion criteria.  Clinical trials also sometimes limit access to patients from particular locations and/or are open to a limited number of patients.

Most trials are free to take part in. The study team usually covers the cost of the treatment being tested. Sometimes travel expenses may also be reimbursed.

Publicly available clinical trial data is often complex, unreliable, or out of date. We maintain our own highly curated database of UK treatment trials. Instead of you spending hours deciphering medical jargon, our expert team does the heavy lifting. We review the complex eligibility criteria, create a shortlist of trials tailored to your diagnosis, and support you and your clinical team in making referrals. We also update your report periodically as your situation or the trial landscape changes.

Clinical trials are usually considered when there is no standard treatment available. This can happen when you are first diagnosed (particularly with a later-stage or rare cancer) but is most common after you have already received the standard-of-care treatments for your cancer.

No.  RareCan helps you find information about potentially suitable trials. You should always talk to your clinical team about whether any of the trials identified might be suitable, and your doctor will make a referral if appropriate.  The trial team will then talk you through the trial in detail before you decide whether you would like to join or not.  You will then go through detailed screening to see if you are suitable for the trial.  Whether you join a trial is always your choice.

Not always. Some trials randomly assign participants to receive either the new treatment or the best available standard treatment. This helps researchers make fair comparisons.

Trials follow strict rules to protect participants. Safety is closely monitored, but all treatments can have risks. The research team will explain these clearly before you decide.

No, we cannot guarantee you will be enrolled in a trial. We work alongside you and your clinical team to find the best potential options. However, trials have very strict and complex eligibility criteria. Some of these criteria can only be assessed during medical screening at the trial site itself. Additionally, trials have limited spaces, meaning they may close enrollment even if you are a perfect match.

No. At RareCan we are focused on helping you find treatment options in the UK.  We will be extending the service to residents of other countries soon, and will start offering reports that include international trials in due course, but currently we are focused on providing high quality, personalised information about treatment trials in the UK only.

Not every trial. Our reports focus on treatment trials and aim to highlight the most relevant options for you. There isn’t a single perfect, complete source of trial information, so while we work hard to keep our database up to date, it may not include every possible trial. Our reports are designed to support you and your clinical team in exploring potential next treatment options, but they should not be seen as a complete list.

The Personalised Trial Report searches for trials based on your general clinical history and cancer type. The InsightDecode service goes a step further by using your existing genetic test results (such as a FoundationOne or Guardant360 report). We translate that complex genomic data into plain English and use your specific genetic mutations (biomarkers) to find highly targeted, precision medicine trials that standard searches might miss.

Many modern cancer treatments are “targeted therapies.” This means the drug is designed to attack a specific genetic alteration driving your tumour’s growth. A genetic test maps out the DNA of your cancer. By knowing your exact genetic profile, we may be able to match you to cutting-edge clinical trials testing new drugs against those specific mutations.

No. We can conduct a comprehensive search using your standard clinical history through our Personalised Trial Report. However, having genetic data often opens the door to more specific targeted therapy trials. If you haven’t had a genetic test yet, you can explore our private Insight genomic testing services to get a detailed profile of your tumour.

Yes. If you already have a genetic test report but aren’t sure what it means for your treatment options, our InsightDecode service is designed exactly for this. We will translate the heavy scientific jargon into a clear summary and use the data to search for targeted trials that match your genetic profile.