Remote Monitoring is The Future of Clinical Research
Remote Monitoring is The Future of Clinical Research
Remote clinical trials are not new topics in clinical research. Scientists have long suggested the use of virtual or decentralized clinical trials, but the recent pandemic has pushed these ideas into the spotlight. The FDA has encouraged the use of technology, non-contact drug deliveries, and telehealth for clinical trials.
Thus, experts believe that the implementation of decentralized clinical trials has been accelerated by 1-2 years. Although some may believe that remote clinical trials will only be a temporary fix for the current situation, many professionals believe that they will reshape the future of clinical research.
In a financially unstable time, remote clinical trials have drastically reduced the cost of conducting clinical trials. By reducing the number of patient visits, companies are using less staff and these staff are working less hours.
The financial benefits of utilizing remote trials will likely impact future trial designs and continue to attract the attention of businesses long after the pandemic.
In addition to being less expensive, going virtual has helped trials become more efficient on every level. AI programs have been used to successfully find eligible patients for trials.
Virtual clinical trials are making participation more accessible, especially those who live in rural areas and have mobility issues. By simplifying trials participation and accessibility, researchers expect a decrease in dropout rates.
Since most data are collected directly from the patient’s electronic device, researchers have been using automated programs to analyze and store patient data immediately after collection.
Although there have been concerns about data accuracy and security, many believe that future technology will be the solution to these problems. These improvements in efficiency have resulted in shortened timelines, which are appealing to sponsors for requiring less funding.
Due to the positive outcomes of remote clinical trials, many investors are recognizing the current and future potential of virtual clinical trials. In July 2020, Medable, a virtual clinical trials company, started working with healthcare data firm Datavant to run decentralized trials.
Additionally, PPD and Covance have also teamed up with Medable to create a better virtual clinical trial experience. Medable’s CEO and cofounder, Michelle Longmire, M.D., plans to cut clinical trial timelines by 50% by incorporating more data sources in digital trials.
One month later, in August 2020, Science 37, another virtual clinical trials company, raised $40 million to create new virtual trials technology. The company plans to focus on patient accessibility as well as simplifying the implementation of decentralized trials for CROs and pharmaceutical companies.
There is no doubt that covid 19 has altered the way clinical research is conducted and quickly creating a new field of opportunities. The incentives of using clinical research is attracting large funding from investors and steadily creating a lucrative field in clinical research.
Since decentralized and virtual clinical trials are here to stay, enterprising professionals should start to master the art of working remotely in clinical research. If you are interested in pursuing or furthering your career in clinical research, please check out our specialized training programs and articles below to learn more about the clinical research job scene.
