Physicians in the US are facing mounting challenges in matching patients with relevant clinical trials, a process many say is overly time-consuming and fragmented, leading to delays in access to potentially life-saving treatments. A new report from healthtech firm myTomorrows reveals that nearly 75% of surveyed doctors believe these delays are harming patient care—and points to artificial intelligence (AI) as a promising solution.

Published this month, the report—titled “Searching for Solutions: How Physicians Navigate Trial Access and Technology”—draws on insights from 100 US-based physicians across specialties, including oncology, neurology, cardiology, and hematology. It highlights systemic barriers within the clinical trial ecosystem and underscores a critical need for smarter, more integrated tools to streamline searches and referrals.

“With more than 500,000 clinical trials registered globally and over 8,000 drugs in development, the landscape is more complex than ever,” said Dr. Michel van Harten, CEO of myTomorrows. “The result is a fragmented process that puts added strain on physicians and delays patients’ access to innovative therapies.”

The weight of complexity

Clinical trials are vital for advancing new treatments, but the sheer scale and complexity of today’s research landscape pose significant hurdles. According to the report, 61% of physicians find it difficult or very difficult to identify and access relevant trials for their patients. An even larger share—72%—say the process is too time-consuming, creating bottlenecks that slow both patient recruitment and broader drug development efforts.

“Physicians work under constant time pressure,” the report notes. “For patients with unmet needs, delays in clinical trial identification and referral can make a critical difference.”

Adding to these challenges, 58% of doctors cite complicated eligibility requirements as a major barrier, while nearly half (47%) point to a lack of geographically relevant trials. Outdated or inaccurate trial registries (23%) and increased protocol complexity (40%) further exacerbate the problem.

The myTomorrows survey reveals that most physicians are forced to juggle multiple tools to search for and refer patients to clinical trials. More than 41% report needing to use multiple systems for a single referral, while 43% find communication with recruiting trial sites unclear.

Existing support tools also fall short: 60% of respondents say pre-screening platforms are either too complicated or insufficient, and 53% believe more precise search filters are needed.

“It’s not just the search—making referrals is a headache,” said one physician respondent. “We’re often left with disjointed systems that don’t talk to each other.”

Physicians see promise in AI, but caution remains

Despite these frustrations, the report identifies a growing openness to technology-driven solutions. More than a third (35%) of surveyed physicians already use generative AI (GenAI) tools—like ChatGPT—for clinical reasoning, research, or trial discovery. Among those who do, 61% say they find these tools trustworthy, citing faster searches and easier access to up-to-date trial information.

Physicians expressed optimism that AI-powered platforms could alleviate the burden of trial matching. Two-thirds (65%) believe AI-assisted pre-screening tools would simplify the process, and 72% want a comprehensive, single-platform overview of all relevant clinical trials.

But barriers to broader adoption persist. Nearly 70% of physicians said they need better education and training on AI use, 58% called for stronger data privacy assurances, and 48% want clearer regulatory oversight.

“There’s growing interest, but also a desire for reassurance,” van Harten said. “Trust in AI depends on designing tools that are not only effective but also aligned with physicians’ specific needs and the ethical standards of care.”

A call for smarter systems

The report outlines key physician-identified solutions that could streamline clinical trial access:

• AI-assisted pre-screening tools (65%)
• Patient navigation services (63%)
• More precise search filters (53%)
• Institutional support from healthcare systems (44%)
• Regular updates from trial sponsors (14%)

Such integrated technologies, coupled with unified communication platforms and EHR-compatible systems, could help reduce the administrative burden on healthcare providers.

As the pace of medical innovation accelerates, the need for efficient, equitable clinical trial access has never been greater. Physicians are clear in their call for smarter tools to help them keep up with emerging treatment opportunities and deliver better care.

“Speed and clarity matter most,” the report concludes. “Solving these challenges will require intelligent, compliant technologies designed with physicians in mind.”

With AI and integrated systems on the horizon, the hope is that physicians may soon spend less time navigating fragmented tools—and more time helping patients access cutting-edge therapies.