11. Navigating Clinical Trials • Dr. Thorvardur Halfdanarson, Mayo Clinic • 2026 NCF Conference

In this session from the Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation’s 2026 Virtual Annual Patient Conference, Dr. Thor Halfdanarson, medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, presents “Navigating Clinical Trials.” Dr. Halfdanarson explains why clinical trials are essential for advancing cancer care and how they help determine whether new treatments, diagnostic tools, procedures, or supportive care approaches are safe and effective. He discusses why trial participation remains low, what barriers patients may face, and why it is always worth asking whether a clinical trial may be appropriate. This presentation covers the basics of clinical trials, including eligibility criteria, trial sponsors, principal investigators, prevention trials, screening trials, diagnostic trials, treatment trials, and the differences between phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3 studies. Dr. Halfdanarson also explains randomized trials, control arms, crossover designs, clinical trial endpoints, median survival, and practical questions patients can ask when considering whether a trial is right for them. Learn more about the Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation and access patient resources at www.NCF.net.