Clinical trials are responsible for the advancement of cancer therapies and are crucial for the translation of new knowledge into tangible benefits for patients. Participation in clinical trials allows patients to access cutting edge treatments in standardized settings to ensure patient safety. Equality of access to clinical trials in Ontario is essential to cancer treatment equity.

However, clinical trials availability at cancer centres in Ontario varies from only one to 350 per site, with an average of 15 trials at the medium and smaller sized centres. Outside of our program, the Clinical Trials Navigator (CTN), most patients have little support in identifying clinical trials outside of their treating centre. This would mean that most patients in Ontario have restricted access to clinical trials. There is no organization or role that is dedicated to helping patients find clinical trials.

Our CTN service fills this service gap in Canada. We have been supported by the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network to date. Patients have applied for our service through their website, and our email: clinicaltrialsnavigator@wrh.on.ca

Patients, patient families, or clinicians can access the service to find potential clinical trials for patients.

The CTN was established in 2019 and we have helped almost 200 Canadian patients to date identify potential clinical trials outside of their treating centre.