Finding a cancer clinical trial in India: CTRI and next steps

You can search for cancer trials in India yourself, but the most useful first step is asking your treating oncologist. They know your diagnosis, earlier treatment and test results, and can judge whether a trial is relevant before you spend time and hope on it. Alongside that conversation, the main public place to search is the Clinical Trials Registry – India, known as CTRI. International registers run by the World Health Organization and by the United States National Library of Medicine also list trials with sites in India. Hospital research departments, patient support groups and cancer charities sometimes share information too. Searching is free, and no genuine registry charges you to look.

CTRI is a free, public online register hosted by the Indian Council of Medical Research. Trials involving people in India are expected to be registered there before the first participant is enrolled, and the registry is recognised by the World Health Organization. Each entry describes what the trial is testing, the health condition studied, whether it is recruiting, the hospitals taking part, the ethics committees that reviewed it and a contact person. You can search by words such as your cancer type or a medicine name. The entries are written for researchers, so the language can be technical, but a family member or your doctor can help you read one. Registration does not mean a trial is endorsed or right for you.

Approaching a centre works best with a referral. Once you find a trial that looks relevant, share the entry with your treating oncologist and ask whether you might qualify. With their support, you or your doctor can contact the listed person at a participating hospital. Have a short summary ready: your diagnosis, key reports, treatments so far and current health. Keep copies of everything you send. The trial team will check eligibility, which is often strict, and many people do not qualify. If you do, you should receive written information and time to decide. Joining is voluntary, you can withdraw at any time, and a trial may not benefit you personally.

Start with your oncologist

They can judge relevance before you search widely.

CTRI is public and free

Anyone can search it from home.

A listing is not an invitation

Eligibility must still be checked by the trial team.

It cannot tell you whether a trial is open for your cancer right now, or whether you would qualify. Registry details change, and only the trial team can confirm eligibility.

It also cannot tell you whether joining would be right for you. That is a decision for you and your oncologist.

Why so few patients know

Clinical trials are rarely discussed in routine appointments, especially when clinics are busy. Many families assume trials happen only abroad. In fact, trials run at hospitals across India, and the registry that lists them is public. Knowing it exists helps you ask better questions, even if no trial suits you.

Other registers

The World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform gathers entries from registries around the world, including CTRI. ClinicalTrials.gov, run in the United States, also lists many international trials with Indian sites. The same trial may appear in more than one place, sometimes with slightly different details.

Reading the recruitment status

An entry marked as not yet recruiting has not started enrolling. One marked as open is enrolling now, though places at a particular hospital may already be full. Closed or completed trials no longer accept participants. Registry details can lag behind reality, so always confirm the current position with the listed contact.

Understanding eligibility in an entry

Entries list inclusion and exclusion criteria, often in medical language. They may mention the type of cancer, earlier treatments, blood test results and general fitness. Do not rule yourself in or out on your own reading. The trial team, working with your treating oncologist, is best placed to interpret these rules.

What to send a trial centre

A short, clear summary helps: your diagnosis, pathology report, recent scan reports, a list of treatments received, current medicines and any other health conditions. Send copies, never originals. Include a contact number and the name of your treating oncologist so the team can coordinate with them.

Travel and distance

Trials are often run at larger hospitals in major cities. If the nearest participating centre is far away, ask early about the visit schedule, whether any checks can be done closer to home and whether travel costs are reimbursed. For many district families, these practical answers decide whether a trial is realistic.

Language and understanding

Consent documents should be available in a language you understand, and the team should explain the trial in words you can follow. If you or your family read Telugu, Hindi or another language more comfortably, ask for it. You should never sign something you have not properly understood.

When your oncologist is unsure

Your treating oncologist may not know every trial running across India. That is normal. Bring the entry to them, and they can contact the trial team or a colleague. A good oncologist will welcome your interest and help you judge whether the trial fits your situation.

Trials at your own hospital

Some hospitals run their own trials and have a research office or coordinator. Ask at reception or through your doctor whether the hospital takes part in research. Even if nothing suits you now, you can ask to be considered if a relevant trial opens later.

If you do not qualify

Being told you are not eligible can be hard, especially after searching with hope. It says nothing about the quality of your current care. Standard treatment remains the foundation for most people, and your oncologist can explain other options, including whether any other trial or access route might be worth exploring.

Protecting your personal information

When you contact a centre, share medical details only with the listed trial contact or through your doctor. Genuine trial teams keep information confidential under ethics rules. Be cautious with unknown websites, social media groups or callers who ask for reports, identity documents or payment in exchange for trial access.

Voluntary at every stage

Finding a trial does not commit you to anything. You can ask questions, take information home and decide not to go ahead at any point. If you do join, you can still withdraw at any time without giving a reason, and your standard care will continue.

What to do next

Talk to your treating oncologist first, search CTRI using your cancer type, save any relevant entries, prepare a short summary of your reports, and contact the trial team only with your doctor's knowledge and support.