About This Project

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating illness with a survival of <18 months; it touches people in the middle of their careers & lives. Guidelines list clinical trials as treatment of choice but only 7% of patients enroll. Our hypothesis is that if providers & patients are given a supporting tool, this rate can be significantly improved. The BTTF as curated AI option for ‘matchmaking’ the right clinical trial to the right patient aims to double this enrollment rate.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Finding the right clinical trial for the right patient & indication is one of the root causes for poor clinical trial enrollment to date. In order to address the unmet need of poor enrollment, our AI powered engine offers an accurate, real-time platform that can be integrated into both clinical care without delays and help patients & their families explore clinical trial options. The braintumortrialfinder.org (BTTF) is user friendly for professionals and non-specialists.

Given medical and therapeutic complexity, expert curation is essential to design an AI-engine that ensures accuracy & optimal user design for a smooth patient experience in clinical trial search—in what is already a frightening situation.

Supporting doctors & patients in identifying suitable trial options fast will enable continued access to innovation, empower patients, double enrollment rates, and create a chance for improving survival outcomes for GBM patients.

What is the significance of this project?

A recent survey of brain tumor physicians showed that the vast majority never propose a clinical trial to their patient albeit this is being listed as an important option in national treatment guidelines. The reasons are manyfold, but a few are complexity, lack of transparency & inaccuracy of available data sources, taking too much time from providers in their busy day clinics; not even speaking of patients & families who have no chance in finding nor understanding any relevant clinical trial information. Through this pilot, we will be able to reach more doctors & families and offer them a quick tool to identify appropriate trials and match the right patient with the right trial. Data such as provider user patterns, patient geographic distribution & reach, number of searches and relevant trials identified, will inform further optimization of the BTTF and future trial designs, empower patients, foster innovation and therefore improve patient outcomes.

What are the goals of the project?

In Q2'26, we will mature the algorithm & accuracy of trial matching and usability; this budget of $7k allows us to increase the number of users by 50% to 1'000 patients served, by expanding our matching algorithm to support more brain tumors and pediatrics (deeper matching);

In Q3'26, an addition of $7k is needed to maintain the databases and cover ongoing cost of keeping this platform alive and ensure quarterly accuracy reviews with clinicians, researchers & patients to keep accuracy level >85% as judged by our expert scientific working group; it will also allow for engagement with 1 additional partnership and cover the acquisition cost into medical and patient advocacy societies to broaden the footprint of use;

Lastly, for Q4'26, a third tier of $7k will focus on expanding the tool to ingest EUDRA trials an add another 2 patient organizations as partners.

Our ultimate goal is to reach 20% of brain tumor patients in over 30 countries.