Lung Cancer Research Progress Tracker vs. Clinical Trial Matching Services: What's the Difference
The Research Progress Tracker shows aggregate, public research trends; clinical trial matching services (like those from LUNGevity or GO2) evaluate an individual's specific diagnosis and history to suggest trials they may personally qualify for.
Several respected patient advocacy organizations, including LUNGevity and GO2 for Lung Cancer, partner with clinical trial matching services that ask about your specific diagnosis, biomarker results, prior treatments, and location, then attempt to identify trials you may be eligible for. These services typically involve a personal intake process and, often, a phone consultation with a trial navigator.
The Lung Cancer Research Progress Tracker on this site works differently and serves a different purpose. It does not ask for or use any personal or diagnostic information. Instead, it answers a broader question: how much active research is currently happening, in total, across major treatment categories, and how has that volume shifted over time?
If your goal is to find a specific trial you might personally qualify for, a trial matching service โ or a direct conversation with your oncologist and a search of ClinicalTrials.gov โ is the appropriate next step. If your goal is to understand the bigger picture of where lung cancer research is currently concentrated, our tracker is built for that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool should I use to find a trial for myself?
Use a dedicated clinical trial matching service or ClinicalTrials.gov directly, in consultation with your oncologist. Our tracker is for understanding overall research trends, not personal matching.
Can the two be used together?
Yes โ many visitors use our tracker to understand which categories are most active, then use a matching service or ClinicalTrials.gov to look at specific trials within that category.