On the 20th of May, the global healthcare community marks International Clinical Trials Day, recognising the essential role of clinical research in improving patient care and advancing medicine.
The date commemorates the 20th of May of 1747, when James Lind, a Scottish naval surgeon, conducted what is widely considered the first controlled clinical trial. While serving aboard HMS Salisbury, he compared treatments for scurvy among sailors and demonstrated that citrus fruits were the most effective therapy—laying the foundations of modern clinical research (FDA, 2024).
International Clinical Trials Day itself was launched in 2005 by the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) to raise awareness of clinical research and bring together everyone involve in cancer across Europe and beyond (ECRIN, 2022).
Clinical trials are the foundation of evidence-based oncology. They enable the development of new treatments, improve existing therapies, and enhance survival and quality of life for people affected by cancer. The impact of recent advances is undeniable: immunotherapy has transformed outcomes in cancers such as melanoma and lung cancer, while CAR-T cell therapies have shown remarkable success in certain blood cancers. These breakthroughs were only possible through well-designed clinical trials.
At the same time, the need for continued research remains urgent. In Europe, approximately 2.8 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2022, and around 22 million people are living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis, reflecting the growing burden of cancer across the region (OECD/European Commission, 2024). Despite this pressing need, participation in cancer clinical trials remains limited. Recent data show that only around 7–8% of adult cancer patients participate in treatment clinical trials, higher than historically reported but still representing a small proportion of eligible patients (Unger et al., 2024; Unger, 2025). Encouragingly, when broader forms of research are considered—including registries, biobanking and quality-of-life studies—participation may reach approximately 20% of patients, highlighting both the willingness of patients to contribute to research and the gap that remains in access to interventional trials (Unger et al., 2024).
Furthermore, in Europe, access to clinical trials also varies significantly across countries, reflecting differences in research infrastructure, resources and regulatory frameworks. These disparities can limit patient access to innovative treatments and create inequalities across regions (Amaral et al., 2020; ECRIN, 2023; European Commission, 2025).
As an oncology research nurse, I see every day how clinical trials translate scientific discoveries into real opportunities for patients. Many patients I meet have never heard about clinical trials before their diagnosis and often have understandable questions or concerns. Nurses are uniquely positioned to build trust, provide clear information and support informed decision-making. Walking alongside patients throughout the research journey is one of the most meaningful aspects of my role.
At the same time, research should not be seen as the responsibility of a small group of health care professionals. All members of the clinical team have a role in fostering a research-active culture, where discussing clinical trials becomes a normal part of patient care. To accelerate innovation and improve access, clinical trials must become more integrated into routine oncology practice. When research is embedded in everyday care, more patients can be considered for trials and more equitable access to innovation becomes possible.
On this International Clinical Trials Day, healthcare professionals are not only witnesses to progress—we are active contributors to it. Whether you are directly involved in research or not, we all have a responsibility to raise awareness of clinical trials, support patients in understanding their options, and advocate for equitable access to research opportunities.
References:
Amaral, T. et al. (2020) ‘Access to cancer medicines and clinical trials show stark variations across Europe’, ESMO Virtual Congress.
ECRIN (2022) Clinical trial success relies on effective patient recruitment – International Clinical Trials Day.
ECRIN (2023) Enabling cross-border access to clinical trials for all patients in Europe.
European Commission (2025) EU Country Cancer Profiles 2025: Synthesis Report. Brussels: European Commission.
FDA (2024) Clinical Trials Day and the history of clinical trials. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
OECD (2025) Delivering High-Value Cancer Care: Recent epidemiological trends in the cancer burden. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD/European Commission (2024) Health at a Glance: Europe 2024. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Unger, J.M. et al. (2024) ‘National estimates of participation of patients with cancer in clinical research studies’, Journal of Clinical Oncology, 42(18).
Unger, J.M. (2025) ‘Inclusive cancer clinical trial participation—A recipe for new treatment advances’, JAMA Network Open, 8(6).