One of the motivations for establishing the platform was a lack of other suitable options for patients to seek and find clinical trials to join.[1]ClinicalTrials.gov is somewhat of an option as it does provide information on all clinical trials.[1] In practice, the Michael J. Fox Foundation felt that its research participants needed a similar service but more customized for their needs.[1] The platform was established in 2012 at a time when such a service was new and other research organizations were establishing similar services.[2] A 2014 paper described the Fox Trial Finder as being part of a broader trend for researchers to support patient communities in organizing themselves to participate in trials.[3]
The Michael J. Fox foundation does a range of other social experiments and interventions which interrelate to the platform and have the overall intent to make for better engagement between clinical trials and research participants.[4] The platform has experimented with conducting research participant study visits through remote video chat.[5][6] In coordination with the platform, the platform has connected research participants with transportation to study sites.[7]
A 2015 evaluation found that the Fox Trial Finder was able to operate as intended and actually match research participants to trials.[8]
^Chowdhury, Sohini; Meunier, Claire C; Cappelletti, Lily; Sherer, Todd B (February 2014). "Improving patient participation in Parkinson's clinical trials: the experience of the Michael J Fox Foundation". Clinical Investigation. 4 (2): 185–192. doi:10.4155/CLI.13.127.