What is International Clinical Trials Day?
To celebrate International Clinical Trials Day 2026, we’re busting some of the most common myths about clinical trials. But what is International Clinical Trials Day?
International Clinical Trials Day is a yearly celebration of the progress made thanks to clinical trials and the people who run them.
It’s also a day to recognise everybody who’s taken part in a clinical trial. Without the invaluable contributions of clinical trial participants in the past, present and future, it simply wouldn’t be possible to find kinder, better cures for brain tumours.
Clinical trial myth one
I’ll receive dangerous, untested medicines
Some early phase clinical trials do involve testing a drug in humans for the first time. But these studies test very low doses and slowly increase the dose to find the safe levels of the drug. These early phase trials only involve a small number of people and the drugs will have already been extensively studied in the laboratory.
In later phase clinical trials, the safe dose for humans has already been discovered and many brain tumour clinical trials focus on repurposing existing drugs that are already safely used for other conditions.
As with any treatment, those tested in clinical trials carry an element of risk and can cause side-effects.
Clinical trial myth two
I’ll receive a placebo and won’t benefit from treatment
There are some clinical trials that use placebos. However, many brain tumour clinical trials test how effective a new treatment is in comparrison to the existing standard of care. So, even if you aren’t receiving the new treatment, you’re still receiving the treatment and care you need.
Often, the clinical trial’s protocols will involve extra check ups and scans. Many people who take part in clinical trials find this reassuring.
And in many clinical trials, if one group of patients is responding positively to the new treatment, researchers may switch other participants to that treatment.
Similarly, if the current standard of care is proving beneficial, participants receiving the new treatment may switch to the current standard of care.
Clinical trial myth three
When the trial ends, I’ll stop receiving the new treatments
If the trial treatment is still beneficial once a trial ends, the trial may be extended. This means researchers can gather extra data on the longevity of the treatment.
Once the trial ends, there may be options available for continuing to access the new treatment. We’d always advise people to talk to the clinical team on the trial about what options you have.
Clinical trial myth four
I can only take part in a clinical trial as a last resort
Clinical trials test a wide range of different things, including:
- innovative new treatments that could provide better results than current standard of care
- drugs that aim to prevent, delay or treat a recurrence of a brain tumour
- treatments that improve quality-of-life instead of increasing survival
- ways of improving quality of life through different forms of post-treatment care.
Speaking to your healthcare team about research opportunities will help you understand what your options are and which clinical trials would be a good fit for you based on your current situation.
Even if you aren’t currently living with a brain tumour, there might be early-stage clinical trials happening that are investigating what the safe dose would be of a brand new drug.
Clinical trial myth five
I need to live close to a large hospital or university to take part
Clinical trials take place all over the UK, with studies often taking place in several different hospitals at once. You can also travel to take part in trials that may be based further away and some studies may be able to reimburse you for your travel expenses.
However, there are undoubtedly inequalities in access to clinical trials related to geography. We recognised this in our Barriers to Participation in Research report and we’re working towards fairer access to brain tumour clinical trials.
Clinical trial myth six
Clinical trials already have enough volunteers
Recent research shows that only 12% of people diagnosed with a brain tumour have taken part in a clinical trial. This means brain tumour clinical trials in the UK consistently have the lowest recruitment levels of all cancers.
Clinical trial myth seven
My doctor will tell me all about any studies that could help me
There are hundreds of clinical trials happening in the UK at any given time – the latest data shows that 578 were initiated in 2024 – and they usually each have strict entry criteria.
Unfortunately, this means it’s difficult for any doctor to be aware of all of them and which ones might be beneficial to their patients.
In our Barriers to Participation in Research report, we found that less than half of those surveyed said they’d been told about potential research opportunities.
Unfortunately, this often means that people affected by a brain tumour diagnosis need to find research opportunities themselves.
Launching ACT-BT
We often hear that people diagnosed with brain tumours are desperate to access emerging treatments through clinical trials. But they just aren’t aware of opportunities to participate.
Dedicated healthcare professionals speak of wanting to highlight research opportunities to their patients. But a lack of resources across an NHS that’s stretched to a breaking point, means there’s little time for clinicians to be familiar with all the clinical trials happening in the UK.
We’re proud to be co-creating and funding Access to Clinical Trials for Brain Tumours (ACT-BT). We’ve set up this new initiative to help break down some of the barriers that prevent people with brain tumours from taking part in research.
What is ACT-BT?
ACT-BT aims to help improve access to clinical trials for adults diagnosed with primary brain tumours.
Consultants will be able to complete a simple online form and refer eligible patients to the ACT-BT panel. Led by Professor Susan Short, the panel – made up of eight neuro-oncology experts – will meet weekly to review cases and match them to potential clinical trials they’re eligible to participate in.
The panel will then feed this information back to the consultant who made the referral, so they can discuss the options with the patient.
This will help people diagnosed with brain tumours receive timely, personalised advice about opportunities to participate in research.
We’re currently still in the process of setting up ACT-BT, but we hope that clinicians will be able to begin making referrals in summer 2026.
Related reading
ACT-BT FAQs
Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about ACT-BT.
ACT-BT podcast
Listen to our podcast episode with Professor Susan Short.
Clinical trials
Learn more about the clinical trials we’re funding.