Building Queries
Create reusable, precise search criteria — every field, every operator, AND/OR logic, autocomplete, auto-follow, and backups.
What a query is
A query is a saved, reusable set of criteria that defines which trials you care about. You build it once in the Query Editor, then run it from the Search page any time. Queries can also follow new matching trials for you automatically and keep them monitored.
Manage your queries
The Queries page lists everything you've saved.
- Search and filter your queries by name, description, or tags.
- Launch a query to run it on the Search page.
- Edit a query to refine it, or delete one you no longer need.
- Create a new query with the New Query button.
Build conditions
A condition is a single rule, such as "Condition contains melanoma". You pick a field, choose an operator, and enter a value. Add as many conditions as you need and combine them with AND/OR logic.
- 1
Pick a field
Fields are organized into categories (Basic Information, Study Details, Sponsors, Drug/Molecule, Device, Locations, and more) so the picker stays manageable. See the field reference below.
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Choose an operator
The available operators depend on the field type — text, date, number, yes/no, or a fixed list of choices. See the operators table below.
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Enter a value
Type a value or pick from suggestions. The free-text option at the top of the suggestions lets you enter any value that isn't in the list.
Trial fields
Trial fields describe the study itself — its identity, design, status, sponsors, eligibility, dates, and outcomes. The most-used fields:
| Category | Fields |
|---|---|
| Basic information | NCT ID, Brief Title, Official Title, Acronym, Secondary IDs, Organization IDs |
| Study details | Overall Status, Study Type, Phases, Conditions, Keywords, Age Groups |
| Sponsors & organizations | Lead Sponsor, Sponsor Class, Organization Name, Collaborators |
| Study content | Brief Summary, Detailed Description, Eligibility Criteria |
| Eligibility | Healthy Volunteers, Sex/Gender, Minimum Age, Maximum Age |
| Study design | Primary Purpose, Intervention Model, Observational Model, Time Perspective, Target Duration |
| Outcomes | Primary Outcomes, Secondary Outcomes, Other Outcomes |
| Population | Study Population, Sampling Method |
| Interventions | Interventions, Arm Groups |
| Regulatory | Has DMC, Has Results |
| Dates | Status Verified, Study First Submitted, Results First Submitted, Last Update Submitted |
| Locations | Facility Name, Country, City, Zip Code |
Drug & molecule fields
When you want trials that involve a particular drug, molecule, or regulatory characteristic, use the drug fields. These match against the FDA/EMA drug data linked to each trial.
| Group | Fields |
|---|---|
| Identity | Molecule Name, Brand Name, INN, UNII, CAS Number, Substance Class, Is Combination |
| Role in trial | Role in Trial (primary / comparator / concomitant / background / exclusion), minimum Link Confidence, Include suggested links |
| Regulatory | FDA Marketing Status, EMA Authorisation Status, Approval Date, Orphan Designation, Fast Track, Breakthrough Therapy, Accelerated Assessment, Conditional Approval, Biosimilar, Generic, Pediatric Exclusivity, REMS |
| Classification | ATC Code, Therapeutic Class (FDA), Therapeutic Area (EMA), Route, Dosage Form |
| Competitive intel | Originator / MAH, Exclusivity End Date, First Generic Available, Has Patents |
Device fields
Device fields match against the FDA device data linked to each trial.
| Group | Fields |
|---|---|
| Identity | Device Name, Product Code, Device Class (I / II / III), Submission Type (510(k) / PMA), Applicant |
| Role in trial | Role in Trial, minimum Link Confidence, Include suggested links |
| Regulatory | Advisory Committee, Decision Date, Has Recalls, Recall Class, Has Adverse Events (MAUDE) |
| Device identifier (GUDID) | Has GUDID Data, Single Use, Implant |
Operators
Operators decide how a field's value is compared. Which ones are offered depends on the field's type.
| Field type | Available operators |
|---|---|
| Text | equals, not equals, contains, does not contain, starts with, greater than, less than |
| Autocomplete text (e.g. Sponsor, Condition) | equals, not equals, contains, does not contain, greater than, less than (plus free-text entry) |
| Fixed-choice list (e.g. Status, Phase, Study Type) | equals, not equals |
| Yes/No | equals (Yes or No) |
| Number (e.g. link confidence) | greater than or equal, less than or equal, equals |
| Date | date range (from/to), after, before, equals |
| Zip code | starts with |
| ATC code | equals, starts with |
Value suggestions & free text
Many fields suggest values as you type so you don't have to guess the exact wording.
- Suggestions appear after you type 2+ characters and are drawn from the full trial catalog, not just your portfolio.
- Some suggestions show how many trials use that value, e.g. "Novartis (127 trials)".
- Country uses a fixed canonical list that also recognizes common variants (e.g. "Czechia" / "Czech Republic").
- The free-text option sits at the top of every suggestion list — pick it to enter any value that isn't suggested.
AND / OR groups
Combine conditions to express precisely what you want. Logic works at two levels.
- Within a group, set whether ALL conditions must match (AND) or ANY can match (OR).
- Between groups, a top-level connector (AND/OR) joins the groups together.
- This lets you express combinations like "(Phase 3 AND Recruiting) OR Breakthrough Therapy".
- Ungrouped conditions and multiple groups can coexist in one query.
Map & geo-filter
The Query Editor includes a map step where you can draw a boundary (polygon) to limit results to trials with facilities inside that area. This is combined with your other conditions.
Test before you save
Use Test Query to get a quick count of how many trials match your current criteria. Adjust and re-test until the count looks right, then name the query (and add an optional description) and save it.
Automate with query settings
Each query has settings that turn it into a living cohort — a saved search that maintains itself in the background:
- Auto-follow — your query becomes a living cohort: new trials are added to your portfolio automatically as they start matching.
- Monitoring — keep auto-followed trials watched for changes.
- Frequency — choose how often you want to be checked in with, such as daily or weekly.
Back up and restore
Export your queries to a file and import them back later — handy for archiving or moving a query library between accounts.
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Export
Download your queries as a single file from the backup option on the Queries page.
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Import
Upload a previously exported file to restore those queries into your account.