Clinical trials – what’s behind the lab doors?

Clinical research is often associated with lab coats, beakers, and a slow, document overloaded process. But, is the research landscape still stuck in the past? Let’s uncover the reality of health tech scientists – how they manage clinical trials, what the main challenges of healthcare research are and more – all questions tackled by the leading experts in the industry.?

Less drama, more data

While clinical trials have always been a long and tricky process, the wind of change is blowing our way, with this sector expected to become more inclusive and automated than ever before.?

Recent years in healthcare have been focused on making the collection of matching puzzle pieces easier. With the 3 main areas of focus – interoperability, diversity, and automation – the transformation promises results we couldn’t even dream of a few years back. With new solutions in play, the trial system could finally become a seamless source of data, communication, and technologies.?

Daily challenges?

Let’s be real: clinical trials have problems. Big ones. There's lack of diversity, lengthy processes, financial struggles, and other issues laying under a pile of documents clinicians have to fill out. These challenges affect the efficiency of the trials, skipping underrepresented groups in research, and resulting in patients with late diagnosis.?

Why does change matter?

There's an easy answer: more efficient clinicians = better patient outcomes. Instead of wasting precious time gathering data across platforms, clinicians can focus on their main subject – patients. And, when clinicians have the full picture of a patient's health, the connected data systems can help them design more effective and inclusive trials. Federico Esposti, PhD , Chief Operating Officer at Ospedale San Raffaele , shares his take on the topic:

More takes from experts: “Interoperability is THE shortcut to better efficiency and outcomes”

Will clinical trials ever mirror real-life diversity?

Well, that’s the goal. We have a lot of treatments suited for “everyone”, but the slice of a population cake is actually very small. Social and economic barriers often discourage communities to participate, leading to clinical trials often focusing on a certain demographic.

Is the gap closing? Slowly, but surely. With the rise of decentralised trials, where the research is brought to the patient instead of the traditional, opposite option, participation is easier and more accessible for everyone. Technology is also a big factor for diversity, starting from spreading the word about research to easier task management. The one-size-fits-all mentality is fading away quicker than a New Year’s resolution in February. And we are here for it.?

Pedro Coelho , Founder & CEO of BIORCE , highlights what’s important to remember while transforming clinical trials during the panel session “Will clinical trials ever truly reflect the diversity of the real world?”:

How’s technology improving modern trials?

It’s all about automation. Last December at Health Tech Forward 2024, Orr Inbar, CEO & Founder at QuantHealth, shared his opinion on automation in clinical trials. He said: “It’s clear there’s a change in the narrative of clinical trials. AI will be a big part of it, and we are on the way to mainstream use”.

Technology is also minimising the risks of using humans or animals for testing, avoiding ethical issues scientists might encounter. But automation doesn’t replace humans in clinical research. It gives researchers the tools to deal with daily challenges, improving speed, and precision. Shola Oyewole , Chief Innovation Officer at United Therapeutics Corporation , seconds this:

Hear the full panel session: “Automation in clinical trials”

What are health tech professionals forecasting for the future?

The future of clinical trials promises a whole lot – with interoperability breaking down data connections, diversity efforts making trials more representative, and automation pushing the limits of trial organisation.?

Data automation is also a big part of clinical trial evolution. Vincent Lepreux , Investment Principal at Debiopharm Innovation Fund, expects technology to not only help with future data but also use the already existing one:

Share your insights about the future of clinical trials in the comments ??

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