We are building a patient-centered decision aid that ensures individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have an immediate, compassionate path to precision trials. Funded by the Department of Defense’s Pancreatic Cancer Research Program, the navigator unites UNC Lineberger, Duke Cancer Institute, UPMC, and veteran health partners around a shared goal: matching the right patient to the right study without delay.

Highlights

• Co-designed with patients. An advisory panel of survivors and caregivers shapes the language, accessibility, and resource library to reflect lived experiences.
• Adaptive eligibility scoring. Large language models and calibrated ranking algorithms surface trial matches using genomics, performance status, geography, insurance coverage, and patient preferences, while providing uncertainty bands that guide navigator review.
• Navigator workflow integration. The platform plugs directly into Lineberger’s consultation intake, generating templated summaries for physicians, nurses, and social workers.

The first pilot launches in 2025 inside the UNC Health environment with expansion to regional partners to follow. By bringing analytics, human-centered design, and clinical navigation together, we aim to shorten time-to-trial enrollment and diversify participation in studies that drive new standards of care.