Precision in Practice: Dr. Meera Ragavan's Approach to Revolutionizing Lung Cancer Trial Matching

In the rapidly evolving field of oncology, matching patients to the right clinical trials can be the key to unlocking new treatments and improving outcomes. Dr. Meera Ragavan, our subject matter expert in lung cancer, plays a critical role in vetting the data behind Trial Library’s platform, ensuring that its recommendations are not just comprehensive but highly precise.

For Dr. Ragavan, the complexity of matching patients to clinical trials goes far beyond simply finding an open study. “What Trial Library recognizes is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach for matching patients to trials. It varies by disease type, and each disease has its own set of priorities in terms of matching criteria,” she explains.

Lung cancer, in particular, requires a more nuanced approach due to the importance of molecular testing. Dr. Ragavan points out that molecular targets uncovered through next-generation sequencing often drive treatment decisions in lung cancer. "Molecular testing is important across all cancers, but especially in lung cancer, where it guides the majority of our treatment options," she says. “Having this as a critical characteristic for matching patients to trials is essential for accuracy.”

In contrast, she notes, more traditional trial search engines lack this precision, highlighting the importance of customizing trial matching based on the disease. "Being precise about how we match patients is hugely important when using these tools," Dr. Ragavan stresses. In her experience, general trial search platforms like clinicaltrials.gov often overwhelm providers with an extensive list of trials that lack meaningful prioritization. "You get a laundry list of options," she adds, "but it’s not immediately clear what the trial is for or who it's best suited for. Parsing through these options takes significant time."

With Trial Library’s oncology trial decision support platform, that inefficiency is addressed head-on. "If you can get a list that’s curated and prioritized based on the most important patient characteristics, like molecular markers, you save a tremendous amount of time in practice," Dr. Ragavan explains. Instead of wading through numerous trials, oncologists can focus on a refined list, making it easier to identify the most promising options for their patients.

Dr. Ragavan further discussed the importance of trial navigation support, not just for patients but also for providers. "Even if I find a trial that might be a fit, reaching out to the PI, confirming whether cohorts are open, and digging into the strict eligibility criteria is another layer of time-consuming work." With Trial Library, oncologists like Dr. Ragavan can hand over this logistical legwork to a dedicated team that navigates the trial process, from confirming the trial’s status to managing the intricacies of eligibility criteria. This support is particularly crucial in reducing the inequities that exist in clinical trial access, as it systematically ensures that all patients, regardless of their demographic background, are considered for trial participation.

Dr. Ragavan’s expertise in lung cancer has helped shape Trial Library’s platform to better serve oncologists who face the same challenges she encounters daily. Her meticulous approach to vetting lung cancer trials ensures that Trial Library’s recommendations are not only accurate but also practical, allowing physicians to make more informed decisions without being bogged down by unnecessary options.

In the end, her work is all about precision. “It’s about getting to the right trial faster, without sacrificing the accuracy of the match,” Dr. Ragavan concludes. With experts like her guiding the platform’s development, Trial Library is set to transform how oncologists find trials—saving time, improving precision, and ultimately helping more patients gain access to life-changing treatments.