The Future Feature, with Mimi Fenton | Read now

Medable, Inc ?recently caught up with a noted Clinical Design & Growth expert, Mimi Fenton, M.P.H., Ph.D from 沃尔玛 Healthcare Research Institute (WHRI), to discuss what she perceives as the biggest breakthroughs in clinical research to date, & what she thinks our industry should strive towards in the future.

What's one thing you wish everybody knew about your job?

It is a mission and passion, much more than a job.

In an ideal world, how would clinical research be done??

We have an incredible opportunity to improve the patient experience. In a perfect world, we would combine this with a people-led, tech-empowered approach to create smarter trial designs that maximize therapeutic value and enhance the patient journey.?

What's one barrier to research that's not being talked about enough?

Patient health literacy, access, and trust. If we want diverse populations to engage in clinical trials, we need to create an experience of understanding, care and trust, and focus on providing opportunities for patients who bear the burden of the disease to access innovative medicines. At WHRI, we want to make it easier for patients to understand that a study is available, why the study is important, how they may benefit, and make participation as easy as possible.?

What's one consumer experience you wish you could bring to clinical research?

Equitable and fair (trial) access. Participating in trials is more burdensome than we realize, creating barriers for diverse populations. At WHRI, my team and I are working on ways in which we can bring awareness to our patients of the potential to access innovative medicines in their homes, at their local doctor office, or while they pick up groceries and diapers.?

If the industry could just ________,?things would work better.? Explain why. ?

Focus on patients

Not only is patient focus the right thing to do, but it also reduces the risk of failure. Clinical trials that prioritize patient experience and patient diversity alongside a scientific agenda will create trust and commitment, recruit more quickly, retain patients more effectively, enhance adherence, and bring the right drugs to market at the right time.?

In your view, what is the smartest/best advancement in clinical trials that's happened in the past 5 years?

The smartest advancement in clinical trials is wider public acknowledgement of a lack of patient diversity in clinical trials. WHRI launched almost one year to this day, and we couldn’t agree more, which is why it is our goal to bring clinical research to underrepresented patients and communities as a care option.

How will AI transform clinical research in the near future, and in the long-term?

We’re at the cusp of dramatic changes in the way in which people interact with a retail environment, including how we enable retail for clinical research capabilities. ?We’re leaning in, creating new ways to make experiences more convenient while honoring our commitment to ensure that clinical trial populations represent patients who bear the burden of the disease.

Everything we do starts and ends with our customer, including technology. It’s tech with purpose and intent. With clinical trials it will enable us to make smarter decisions, reduce patient burden and help our sponsors in drug development. Walmart just announced our Walmart Responsible AI pledge, which reinforces our commitment to using technology and the rapid pace of technological innovation in ways that are safe and beneficial to our customers, associates, and members.

Walmart is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer. It’s the people-led, tech-powered combination that makes Walmart unique - 90% of the US population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart and we know human interaction will continue to make a difference. However, the use of AI can enable the work with sponsors in providing appropriate diagnostic screenings prior to specific trial screenings.