A Digital Portal Connecting Cancer Patients to Clinical Trials
Official title: A Multi-level Approach to Connecting Individuals to Cancer Clinical Research
Funded at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville · NIH-11395600 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Mayo Clinic project uses an AI-powered virtual assistant to help adults find and refer themselves to cancer clinical trials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Jacksonville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jacksonville, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $857,840 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA274970-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395600 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older who are interested in cancer clinical trials and can access digital information
✕Less likely to help
Patients without internet access or who are not seeking trial information may gain little from this portal.
What this research studies
This project develops the ALEX Research Portal, an adaptive virtual human system that provides tailored cancer trial information to patients and families. It enables clinicians to refer patients and allows patients to self-refer, aiming to streamline how people learn about and join trials. By combining virtual outreach with traditional community health educators, the approach seeks to expand reach to diverse communities while maintaining trust. The goal is to make it easier for adults with cancer to discover suitable trials and connect with study teams.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could learn about and enroll in relevant cancer trials faster, increasing access to cutting-edge therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using virtual assistants and referral portals has shown promise in increasing referrals and engagement in clinical research.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Jacksonville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raup-Krieger, Janice Lee — Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
- Study coordinator: Raup-Krieger, Janice Lee
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.