By
Trial Library
March 11, 2025
At Trial Library, we collaborate with leading oncology experts to ensure our Trial Search Platform is transforming clinical trial access for providers and their patients. As part of our SME Spotlight Series, we’re excited to feature Dr. Dame Idossa, a breast oncologist at Mayo Clinic and a dedicated advocate for health equity in clinical research.
Dr. Idossa’s work focuses on addressing disparities in trial participation and ensuring that more patients—regardless of background or location—have access to cutting-edge treatments. In this interview, she shares her insights on the biggest challenges providers face in trial matching and how provider-first platforms like Trial Library’s Trial Search Platform are changing the landscape of clinical trial access.
Q: Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to specialize in your focus area?
A: My name is Dame Idossa, and I am a breast oncologist currently practicing at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I have been a breast oncologist for the past three years. I came into oncology through my experiences during residency, where I really enjoyed that work and rotation. Even dating back to medical school, I had a strong interest in women’s health. When I explored different fields within oncology, breast cancer was a natural fit for me—it allowed me to build on my passion for women’s health. During my fellowship, I had the opportunity to work with incredible colleagues who were leaders in breast oncology, which further solidified my decision.
Right now, breast oncology is experiencing a huge wave of advancements, and that was also very appealing to me. The field is rapidly evolving, and being a part of that progress is incredibly rewarding.
Q: How has your clinical or research experience shaped your perspective on clinical trial access?
A: Part of my work involves caring for patients with breast cancer, but I also dedicate time to research. My overarching research goal is to advance health equity, and a significant aspect of that is working in clinical trials—figuring out how to make trials more equitable, accessible, and representative of the patients we serve.
That focus on equity is what brought me to Trial Library and my role as a subject matter expert in breast oncology. I am particularly interested in identifying and addressing the barriers that make it difficult for certain populations to participate in trials.
Q: What are the biggest challenges that providers face when trying to match patients to the right breast cancer trials?
A: The challenges vary depending on the setting. In an academic setting like mine, clinical trial portfolios change rapidly, making it difficult to stay updated on open trials and availability. In a busy clinic, where time is limited, this can be especially challenging.
In community oncology, providers often care for patients with many different cancer types, so staying informed about all available trials in their geographic area is even more demanding. Time is a major challenge—providers have to juggle staying updated on trials, discussing options with patients, obtaining consent, and handling enrollment logistics, especially when trials are not conducted at their own site.
Additionally, patients face logistical barriers, such as transportation, financial constraints, or lack of awareness about resources. Oncologists may not always have access to the necessary resources to help patients overcome these barriers, making it difficult to support trial participation effectively.
Q: How do existing trial search platforms fall short in addressing these challenges?
A: Many existing platforms are patient-facing, meaning they primarily serve patients who already know about clinical trials and have the motivation, time, and health literacy to navigate the search process. This inherently selects for a group of patients who have fewer barriers to trial access, potentially exacerbating disparities in trial participation.
From a provider standpoint, these platforms do not address key issues such as limited time, staying updated on trial availability, and navigating logistics. Providers need a solution that fits into their workflow and helps them efficiently identify relevant trials without adding an extra burden to their already demanding schedules.
Q: Since Trial Library is more provider-facing, how do you see it addressing these issues compared to other platforms?
A: That’s an important distinction. Since providers already have clinical expertise, a provider-facing platform allows them to quickly identify the right trials for their patients rather than relying on patients to find trials themselves through sources like WebMD or Google. This streamlines the process and ensures patients receive informed guidance from their oncologists.
Q: What are the most important factors to consider when matching patients to trials from a precision oncology standpoint?
A: Many breast cancer trials now integrate genomic data into their eligibility criteria. Patients may need to have specific genomic alterations, either in their germline DNA or tumor DNA, to qualify for certain trials. However, oncologists seeing multiple patients a day may not have time to check for these details in real-time.
When designing the questionnaire for Trial Library’s breast cancer trial matching, we focused on structuring the logic to be as inclusive as possible. The goal was to ensure that even if a provider didn’t immediately have certain genomic information on hand, they could still explore relevant trials. Breast cancer trial matching has become increasingly complex—not only do we consider ER, PR, and HER2 status, but also multiple targeted therapies now available for patients. This complexity underscores the need for a streamlined and intelligent approach to trial matching.
Q: How does Trial Library address the inefficiencies you've encountered in traditional trial matching?
A: Trial Library is an excellent tool, and if I had to highlight one of its strongest aspects, it would be its patient navigation component. The platform has the potential to be truly transformative in making clinical trial access more efficient and equitable.
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Dr. Idossa’s insights highlight the urgent need for more efficient, provider-friendly tools to streamline trial matching and reduce barriers to participation. That’s exactly what we’ve built at Trial Library.
Our provider-first Trial Search Platform is designed to fit seamlessly into your workflow—helping you quickly identify the right trials for your patients without adding extra administrative burden.
Try our Trial Search Platform today and make clinical trial access simpler, smarter, and more equitable.
