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8 Indian Oncologists and Centres Offering New Lung Cancer Clinical Trial Therapies in 2026

Writer: Ganesh Akunoori
Ganesh Akunoori
11 minutes ago
12 min read

Introduction

You have just been told the standard chemotherapy stopped working, or the diagnosis is a rare mutation with no approved drug in India. The ground shifts under you. You are searching for something beyond the protocol, a therapy still in testing that might work when everything else has failed.

In India, that search can lead to a treatment chair. Clinical trials evaluating new targeted pills, immunotherapies, and drug combinations for lung cancer are recruiting right now. Leading oncologists at major centres act as principal investigators on globally sponsored and investigator-initiated Phase I to IV studies, putting novel agents within reach years before a commercial launch.

Dr. Amit sat across from his oncologist at a Chennai research hospital in April 2026, seven months after a rare EGFR exon 20 insertion diagnosis had exhausted the standard lines. His doctor pulled up a Phase II protocol testing a next-generation TKI not yet filed for Indian approval. One screening scan and a biopsy confirmation later, he swallowed his first dose under a trial ID, not a pharmacy bill.

You need to know where to look, which doctors to contact, and what it costs. This guide maps the oncologists, hospitals, and navigation services that open trial doors for lung cancer patients across India.

Key Takeaways

Dr. Amit Joshi, the thoracic medical oncologist at ACTREC in Mumbai, keeps a running tally on his desk, not of patients seen, but of biomarker reports that matched a study opening that month. He calls it his “actionable list.” When your own genomic report lands, you want to be on a list like that.

  • Top Trial-Active Centres: ACTREC (Tata Memorial, Mumbai) runs Phase I, IV thoracic trials. Apollo Proton (Chennai) provides private-sector immunotherapy suites. AIIMS Delhi conducts investigator-initiated MET and adjuvant studies.

  • Lead Oncologists: Dr. Amit Joshi oversees the ACTREC thoracic portfolio. Dr. Bharat Patodiya offers a single-window navigation model that matches patients to trial sites.

  • Eligibility Triggers: You need a genomic report confirming a targetable alteration, EGFR, ALK, MET exon 14 skipping, or KRAS G12C, before most novel-agent trials will screen you.

  • Cost Reality: Trial drugs are usually free, which eliminates the ₹2.5 to ₹35 lakh monthly outlay for standard novel agents. Biomarker testing, travel, and supportive care remain your responsibility.

  • Searchable Registries: The ICMR Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI) and the National Cancer Grid (NCG) Knowledgebase let you independently verify recruiting lung cancer studies.

  • Late one evening, Dr. Amit glanced at the week’s screened files and told a visiting fellow, “The difference between a trial slot and a waitlist is a genomic report filed three weeks before the cohort fills.” That piece of paper, your biomarker result, is what turns a directory entry into an appointment.

1. Dr. Bharat Patodiya

Starting without a biomarker report, or staring at a list of trial sites that seem disconnected from one another, is common. Dr. Bharat Patodiya’s practice operates as an entry point into the novel therapy ecosystem. His model connects patients with fellowship-trained surgical and medical oncologists inside multidisciplinary cancer centres before any trial conversation starts. Get connected directly through his lung cancer practice.

His team provides cost estimates and financial counselling at the outset. This sharpens your focus right away. The investigational drug may carry no charge, but genomic profiling, scans, and hospital admission days still carry bills you need to see clearly.

Dr. Patodiya’s group evaluates your performance status, biomarker profile, and treatment preferences to shape a personalized care plan, then coordinates with principal investigators at active trial centres. ACTREC is one of the public-sector anchors they work with. The single-window coordination includes logistics for targeted therapy planning and subscription-based support programs that start at ₹3,000.

Upload imaging and pathology reports and you get a multidisciplinary tumour board review within 48 hours. Think of it as a translation layer: your medical file becomes an actionable trial-search roadmap, especially useful when you are new to the academic oncology system and need plain-language guidance on which trial doors are actually open right now.

2. Dr. Amit Joshi & the ACTREC Phase I, IV Thoracic Trials Unit, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai

The most direct route to a novel therapy in India starts at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) in Mumbai, where the Department of Medical Oncology conducts ongoing globally sponsored and investigator-initiated Phase I, IV trials for lung cancer. Here is how you approach enrollment at this premier site.

  1. Confirm your genomic status first. ACTREC’s thoracic unit runs trials requiring specific alterations, including a comparative pharmacokinetic study of pemetrexed in Indian adenocarcinoma patients where the generic formulation showed a 45% objective response rate versus 50% for the innovator drug. Your biopsy must be profiled for EGFR, ALK, ROS1, MET, and KRAS G12C.

  2. Contact the principal investigator directly. The clinical trial centre page lists active thoracic studies. Identify the principal investigator (Dr. Amit Joshi is a central figure for lung cancer medical oncology) and have your treating oncologist send a formal referral with your complete medical file and biomarker report.

  3. Prepare for a screening visit at ACTREC. The outpatient clinics serve over 300 patients daily, with more than 150 chemotherapies administered each day. You will undergo fresh imaging, performance status assessment, and organ function tests to verify you meet the narrow eligibility criteria of the specific trial.

  4. Understand the institutional commitment. If you enroll, your trial treatment, scheduling, and adverse event monitoring typically occur at the same site, leveraging the department’s status as one of Asia’s largest bone marrow transplant centres with more than 1,500 transplants performed, which signals deep experience in managing complex therapy toxicities.

3. Dr. Bharat Patodiya & Pi Cancer Care’s Single-Window Trial Navigation Model

Finding an open trial is the first bottleneck. Coordinating between multiple hospitals, understanding conflicting eligibility criteria, and obtaining a rapid second opinion on whether a Phase I study is appropriate for your stage of disease is the second. The trial navigation model at Pi Cancer Care acts as a centralized coordination layer that addresses these three key challenges:

  • Cross-site trial matching: The navigation team cross-references your biomarker profile (EGFR, ALK, MET, BRAF, KRAS G12C) with the active portfolio at multiple sites, including ACTREC and private centres, instead of requiring you to call individual hospitals.

  • Rapid multidisciplinary review: Pi Cancer Care evaluates your performance status and disease trajectory, then provides a multidisciplinary second-opinion within one week.

  • Direct PI coordination: The team coordinates directly with the trial's principal investigator to support a screening slot, adding a dedicated logistics layer alongside your existing oncologist, it does not replace that relationship.

The service includes integrated palliative care, management of supportive therapies for side effects, and a transparent pricing model starting at ₹3,000 for three-month subscriptions.

4. The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre Early-Phase & Immunotherapy Suite, Chennai

Dr. Amit landed in Chennai on a Tuesday morning with a file of scans and a list of questions. His father's oncologist in Hyderabad had mentioned the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre as the one place in South India running the immunotherapy combination he was looking for.

That search reflects what the centre actually offers: a private-sector route into early-phase lung cancer trials, with proton therapy and next-generation immunotherapy under one roof. A 2024 review in *Frontiers in Oncology* noted that proton therapy can reduce the mean heart dose by roughly 50% compared with standard photon radiation for centrally located thoracic tumors, a margin that matters when cardiac tissue is in the treatment field.

The immunotherapy suite runs checkpoint inhibitors across the PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 pathways. A multidisciplinary team manages immune-related adverse events, which is the infrastructure that makes the difference between a trial site that can handle grade 3 pneumonitis and one that has to pause enrollment after the first serious toxicity.

Screening moves faster here than at most public hospitals. You will also see the other side of that speed: hospitalization charges, diagnostic workups, and any non-trial drug components land on you. The gap from a government-subsidized centre is real.

For families in South India, that trade-off often comes down to logistics. Avoiding a relocation to Mumbai or Delhi saves months of disruption, and when a trial window is measured in weeks, geography is a clinical variable.

Dr. Amit's father started his first infusion 11 days later. "They handled the paperwork in two days," he told me. "We spent the rest of that week just sorting out where my mother would stay."

5. Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) Biomarker-Driven NSCLC Sub-Studies, Delhi

If you are based in North India, the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) in Delhi runs a high-volume program actively recruiting for biomarker-driven sub-studies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The centre matches specific genetic mutations to a corresponding experimental agent, letting you bypass generic chemotherapy trials and target the actual biology of your cancer.

The practical implication for you is straightforward. When your biopsy confirms a mutation like EGFR exon 20 insertion or MET exon 14 skipping, RGCIRC can screen you for a sub-study evaluating an oral inhibitor designed precisely for that alteration. The drug's mechanism directly addresses the identified mutation you carry.

You must arrive with a thorough next-generation sequencing report. Without it, the discussion stops before it begins.

For North Indian patients, this centre completes the geographic triangle alongside ACTREC in the West and Apollo Proton in the South. The multidisciplinary team reviews imaging, genomic data, and performance status, then places you into an active sub-study slot. A practical focus runs through the process: the team weighs how to keep treatment within manageable commuting distance from your home during the intensive monitoring phase.

6. The National Cancer Grid (NCG) & ICMR Clinical Trials Registry, India’s Searchable Portals

You cannot rely solely on a doctor’s word that a trial exists or is still recruiting. You need to independently verify the landscape, and India operates two primary digital tools for this: the ICMR Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI) and the National Cancer Grid (NCG) Knowledgebase. The CTRI is a government-mandated, publicly searchable database of all clinical trials approved to run in India. You enter keywords like “non-small cell lung cancer” and filter by “recruiting” status to generate a raw list of active studies, including the principal investigator’s name, site location, and eligibility summary.

The NCG Knowledgebase layers on top of this by linking trials to specific NCG member hospitals, which include Tata Memorial Centre and AIIMS, giving you a map of academic centres running the study.

What you extract from these portals is the precise trial acronym, the principal investigator, and the contact information for the clinical research coordinator. You take this data, not just a vague mention of a trial, to your next oncologist consultation.

As of August 2026, the global clinical trial infrastructure holds 22 open thoracic cancer trials actively listed on the U.S. National Clinical Trials Network portfolio alone, many with international sites accessible in India. Some evaluating biomarker-directed immunotherapies are embedded within master protocols like Lung-MAP, which randomizes patients with previously treated NSCLC into sub-studies based on their genomic profile.

7. AIIMS Delhi, Investigator-Initiated Trials in MET & Adjuvant Settings

AIIMS Delhi operates in a distinct category from industry-sponsored studies. Its oncologists design and run investigator-initiated trials (IITs) that target specific gaps in Indian lung cancer care, particularly for MET exon 14 skipping mutations and post-surgical adjuvant therapy in NSCLC. Because these are academic and often publicly funded, they can provide an alternative access route when you do not qualify for a pharmaceutical company’s narrowly defined global trial.

The focus on MET alterations is clinically urgent. Global studies like the S1900K LUNG-MAP sub-study are evaluating tepotinib with or without ramucirumab in MET exon 14 positive stage IV NSCLC, and Indian investigator-initiated protocols often parallel this inquiry while accommodating the specific genetic epidemiology of the Indian population.

If you have undergone a complete surgical resection for stage II or III NSCLC, these post-surgical or “adjuvant” IITs are testing whether adding a targeted agent or immunotherapy after surgery reduces recurrence. This matters because standard adjuvant chemotherapy still leaves about half of patients experiencing cancer recurrence.

Enrollment in an AIIMS IIT means you are treated within a public-sector, low-cost infrastructure. The investigational drug is typically provided at no charge, and you are closely monitored by a research team that is not managing a commercial portfolio, which can translate into more flexible eligibility windows.

8. Cost Navigation: Framing the ₹2.5 to 35 Lakh Spectrum of Trial vs. Standard Care

Dr. Amit sat across from us in Hyderabad last April holding two printouts. One was a commercial pharmacy quote for a targeted therapy his mother needed: ₹3.2 lakh a month. The second was a trial consent form for that same drug. The drug cost line read zero. What followed was not relief. It was six weeks of budget reshuffling, a loan against family jewellery for travel, and a neighbour who checked in on the house while they rented a room near the trial site for four months.

The financial difference between buying a novel agent commercially and receiving it through a trial is the decisive factor for most families. The table below contrasts the monthly cost burden across standard care and trial paths.

Cost Dimension

Standard Commercial Novel Agent

Enrolled in a Clinical Trial

Monthly Drug Cost

₹2.5 Lakh for standard chemo to ₹35 Lakh for some targeted or immunotherapy agents

Usually zero (sponsor provides the investigational drug)

Biomarker Testing (NGS Panel)

₹15,000, ₹40,000 (one-time, out-of-pocket)

Required upfront; same cost, but determines trial eligibility

Hospitalization & Monitoring

Full cost of daycare admissions, supportive medications, and imaging

Study-related scans and visits often covered; non-study supportive care billed to you

Travel & Logistics

Varies by distance to your chosen centre

Potentially higher if the trial site is far from your home; relocation or extended hotel stays add ₹30,000, ₹50,000 monthly

Financial Assistance

Insurance may cover standard regimens; Ayushman Bharat covers up to ₹5 lakh

Trial sponsors do not cover your personal travel and caregiver costs; no dual-claiming across schemes is allowed for the same treatment episode

You do not eliminate costs by joining a trial. You shift them. The monthly drug bill, the expense that can wipe out a middle-class family's savings within weeks, is absorbed by the trial sponsor. Genomic testing to prove eligibility still comes out of your pocket. Daily living near the trial site during intensive monitoring phases, plus all non-protocol supportive medications, remain your responsibility. Build your financial buffer around the travel, hotel, and supportive care line items. That is where the surprise lands. When Dr. Amit's family tallied their four-month spend last July, the pharmacy cost was a column of zeroes. The hotel bill had climbed to ₹1.8 lakh.

Conclusion

Multiple Indian oncologists and centres actively offer new lung cancer therapies via clinical trials in 2026. Your action path is specific: obtain a complete biomarker report on your tumor tissue, contact a named oncologist or a navigation specialist like Dr. Bharat Patodiya, and independently verify recruiting studies on the CTRI portal. Delay reduces eligibility as your organ function and performance status decline, so initiate the trial search at the point of initial treatment failure, not as a last resort.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find an oncologist in India who specializes in lung cancer clinical trials?

To begin identifying the right clinical trial for your case, follow these three steps:

  • Search the CTRI: Start by searching the ICMR Clinical Trials Registry (CTRI) for recruiting lung cancer studies and note the principal investigator’s name and hospital.

  • Identify key investigators: At ACTREC (Mumbai), Dr. Amit Joshi is a central figure in thoracic trials.

  • Use a navigation service: You can also use a navigation service like Dr. Bharat Patodiya’s practice to match your case to appropriate investigators.

What are the latest targeted therapy and immunotherapy clinical trials for lung cancer in India?

Active trials in India currently include these major categories:

  • Biomarker-driven master protocols: Lung-MAP evaluates osimertinib, amivantamab, and sotorasib for specific mutations.

  • MET-directed sub-studies: The S1900K sub-study tests tepotinib with ramucirumab for MET exon 14 positive NSCLC.

  • Investigator-initiated adjuvant trials: AIIMS Delhi and ACTREC run protocols testing novel agents in the adjuvant setting.

Which are the major hospitals and research centers in India conducting lung cancer clinical trials?

The four primary centres for lung cancer clinical trials in India are:

  • ACTREC (Tata Memorial Centre), Mumbai: Runs Phase I, IV thoracic trials.

  • Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai: Offers immunotherapy and early-phase studies.

  • AIIMS Delhi: Focuses on investigator-initiated MET and adjuvant trials.

  • Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi: Specializes in biomarker-driven NSCLC sub-studies.

How can a lung cancer patient enroll in a clinical trial in India and what is the eligibility process?

You must first obtain a genomic sequencing report on your tumor to confirm a targetable mutation like EGFR, ALK, or MET. Your oncologist then sends a referral to the trial’s principal investigator. You will undergo a screening visit including imaging, blood tests, and a physical exam to verify you meet the study’s strict organ function and performance status criteria.

Does Dr. Bharat Patodiya or Pi Cancer Care connect lung cancer patients to new clinical trial therapies in India?

Yes. Dr. Bharat Patodiya operates a single-window navigation model that evaluates your biomarker profile and medical history, then coordinates with principal investigators at active trial sites across India to secure a screening slot. The service provides upfront cost estimates and subscription-based support programs starting at ₹3,000.

What are the costs and logistics for accessing a lung cancer clinical trial in India?

The investigational drug is typically free, eliminating a monthly bill of ₹2.5 to ₹35 lakh. However, you still bear the cost of biomarker testing (₹15,000 to ₹40,000), travel, accommodation near the trial site during intensive monitoring, and non-protocol supportive medications. Insurance and schemes like Ayushman Bharat cover some standard care components.

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