Physicians Cite AI as a Key to Improving Clinical Trial Matching and Patient Access
A new survey of U.S.-based physicians highlights the challenges of clinical trial enrollment and the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving access to emerging treatments. The report, titled “Searching for solutions: How physicians navigate trial access and technology,” was released by health tech company myTomorrows.
Key Challenges in Clinical Trial Matching
Clinical trials are essential to advancing new treatments, but physicians report that finding and referring patients to appropriate trials remains a significant barrier. Among the key findings:
- Time-consuming search process:
72% of physicians say searching for clinical trials takes too much time, and 61% find it difficult to identify and access relevant options. - Volume and complexity:
With more than 500,000 trials globally and over 8,000 drugs in development, navigating trial databases has become increasingly complex. Much of the work is still manual, making it inefficient and prone to delays. - Tool limitations:
60% of physicians say existing trial pre-screening tools are too complex or insufficient, and 53% want more precise search filters.
23% report that current trial registries are often outdated or inaccurate. - Referral friction:
More than half (56%) describe the referral process as fragmented and slow.
41% say they need multiple tools for a single referral, while 43% find communication with referral sites unclear. - Barriers to equitable access:
Physicians point to limited trial availability in certain geographies (47%), increasing protocol complexity (40%), and strict eligibility criteria (58%) as factors that limit access, particularly for underserved populations.
Physician Perspectives on AI in Trial Matching
The report also explored physicians’ views on AI as a solution to these challenges:
- Support for AI-driven tools:
65% of physicians believe AI-assisted pre-screening tools could streamline the trial matching process.
72% express interest in having a unified, comprehensive view of all relevant trials. - Current adoption and trust:
35% of physicians already use AI to help search for clinical trials. Among them, 61% find these tools trustworthy, citing faster and more efficient access to trial information. - Barriers to AI adoption:
While interest in AI is growing, physicians identified several needs to support broader adoption:- 69% want better training and education on AI tools
- 58% seek stronger privacy safeguards
- 48% want clearer regulatory guidance
Call for Smarter, Integrated Solutions
Physicians surveyed expressed a desire for technologies that are easier to use and better integrated into clinical workflows.
“Navigating the clinical trial landscape is often complex, time-consuming, and frustrating for both patients and physicians,” said Dr. Michel van Harten, CEO of myTomorrows. “That’s why it’s essential that healthcare professionals and patients have trusted tools that make finding the right clinical trials faster, simpler, and more transparent.”
Van Harten emphasized the need for practical solutions built with the realities of day-to-day care in mind. “Our AI-powered technology streamlines every step of the process, connecting stakeholders in a more equitable clinical trial ecosystem—one that delivers meaningful impact for patients, both today and in the future,” he said.
About the Survey
The findings are based on a survey conducted in April 2025 with 100 U.S. physicians who had searched for clinical trials in the previous year. Participants included both general practitioners and specialists across oncology, neurology, cardiology, and hematology. The goal was to better understand the day-to-day barriers clinicians face when navigating clinical trials and to explore their openness to emerging technologies as part of the solution.
