Clinical Trials

We develop new tools for diagnosing and treating cancer. The CRUK Clinical Trials Unit works together with clinicians to take advances in medicine and surgery forward to the clinic. We translate cutting edge science into improved patient care through the design of large multi-centre/international randomised trials as well as more data intensive Phase I trials of novel therapies.
Theme Lead
Pamela Kearns
Professor of Clinical Paediatric Oncology
View profile
Research groups
Haematology and Oncology
Researcher | Research area |
Dr Manoj Raghavan |
Myeloid malignancies |
Spotlight on Lung Cancer
583:807-812 (2020). Middleton G, P Fletcher, S Popat, J Savage, Y Summers, A Greystoke, . . .and L Billingham. The National Lung Matrix Trial of personalized therapy in lung cancer.

A pioneering lung cancer study, led by the University of Birmingham’s Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, has highlighted important factors that will need to be considered in the next wave of precision medicine studies particularly in treating genomically complicated cancers.
The National Lung Matrix Trial (NLMT) is the world’s largest precision medicine clinical trial for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Selected highlights from this research theme
BMJ 376:e068177 (2022). Homer V, C Yap, S Bond, J Holmes, D Stocken, K Walker, . . . P Gaunt. Early phase clinical trials extension to guidelines for the content of statistical analysis plans.
J Clin Oncol JCO2200033 (2022). De Wilde B, E Barry, E Fox, D Karres, M Kieran, J Manlay, . . . P Kearns. The Critical Role of Academic Clinical Trials in Pediatric Cancer Drug Approvals: Design, Conduct, and Fit for Purpose Data for Positive Regulatory Decisions.
Arch Dis Child 107:186-188 (2022). Millen GC, R Arnold, JB Cazier, H Curley, R Feltbower, A Gamble, . . . P Kearns. COVID-19 in children with haematological malignancies.
British J Cancer 124:754-759 (2021). Millen GC, R Arnold, JB Cazier, H Curley, RG Feltbower, A Gamble, . . . C Varnai, PR Kearns. Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer: Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project.
iScience 24:103215 (2021). Syrimi E, E Fennell, A Richter, P Vrljicak, R Stark, S Ott, . . . P Kearns, GS Taylor. The immune landscape of SARS-CoV-2-associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) from acute disease to recovery.
Nature 583:807-812 (2020). Middleton G, P Fletcher, S Popat, J Savage, Y Summers, A Greystoke, . . . L Billingham. The National Lung Matrix Trial of personalized therapy in lung cancer.
Lancet Respir Med 8:895-904 (2020). Middleton G, K Brock, J Savage, R Mant, Y Summers, J Connibear, . . . L Billingham. Pembrolizumab in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer of performance status 2 (PePS2): a single arm, phase 2 trial