In this insightful session about challenges in clinical research, I spoke with Aruna Adhikari, Head of Product and Senior Director of Clinical Technology at IQVIA Technologies. We discussed the innovative strategies and technological advancements that IQVIA has introduced to transform clinical trials, focusing on how these developments enhance data accuracy and improve patient outcomes.
Moe: Can you elaborate on how IQVIA’s technology solutions aim to revolutionize clinical trials?
Aruna: IQVIA Technologies develops and delivers more than 20 software-as-a-service solutions that are offered independently from our CRO services. These technology solutions are transforming clinical trials by addressing the challenges that traditionally slow research and development. From planning and start-up through conduct and closeout, our products manage every phase of a trial. These technologies significantly improve important functions such as site selection, patient recruitment, data collection, and financial transactions. By automating and optimizing these processes, we reduce administrative overhead, enhance accuracy, and expedite trial timelines, thereby boosting efficiency and the pace of clinical trials.
Additionally, our technologies shift trials towards more patient-centric practices. We employ patient technologies to enhance patient engagement, simplify participants’ understanding of their roles, and keep them informed. Our product offerings tackle the pervasive issue of data silos by integrating disparate systems into one cohesive structure to enhance the flow of information and support better data management practices, enabling more coherent data analysis and decision-making. By centralizing data, we can facilitate quicker access and more accurate data processing, which is crucial for the timely progression of trials. This comprehensive approach advances medical research and patient welfare and redefines the participant experience, making clinical research more accessible and manageable for all stakeholders.
Moe: Can you provide an example of how this technology improves day-to-day operations at trial sites?
Aruna: Aruna: Our new platform, called “One Home for Sites,” significantly eases operational challenges by bringing the clinical trial technology ecosystem together into a single access point. This platform simplifies the work of site managers who oversee dozens of studies and reduces the cognitive load of managing separate logins and interfaces, a common source of inefficiency and frustration at trial sites. Traditional methods require navigating various systems with separate logins and interfaces, which is cumbersome. One Home for Sites offers a single access point to sponsors, studies, and systems. It serves as an aggregator for all study-related tasks, reducing administrative time and addressing inefficiencies in clinical trial management.
Moreover, when One Home for Sites is used in conjunction with technologies such as the IQVIA Investigator Site Portal, it enhances data entry accuracy and automates routine tasks, reducing errors and improving team communication. Real-time updates and centralized notifications keep everyone aligned, which is crucial for the timely progression of trials. We are laser-focused on alleviating site administrative burden, and One Home for Sites is bringing the industry together to accomplish this goal.
Moe: Turning our focus towards patients, how does your technology enhance their trial experience?
Aruna: Our technology is designed to revolutionize the patient experience in clinical trials, making their journey through the process as seamless and non-intrusive as possible. Firstly, by optimizing technological support for sites, we directly enhance patient care by allowing site personnel to spend less time on administrative tasks and more on direct patient care. Secondly, tools like eConsent and electronic Clinical Outcome Assessments (eCOA) further simplify patient interactions by making it easier for them to provide informed consent and input on clinical outcomes from the comfort of their homes. Integrating these technologies emphasizes our commitment to placing patients at the center of clinical research, valuing their participation, and ensuring a positive experience.
Moe: With the advancement of technology, how do you see the future of clinical trials evolving?
Aruna: The integration of advanced technologies such as generative AI and interconnected data systems is poised to transform clinical trials. Generative AI, in particular, can potentially overhaul clinical trial protocols by predicting outcomes and customizing trial designs based on data-driven insights. An interconnected data ecosystem will enhance data sharing and analysis across platforms, further accelerating the delivery of new therapies by streamlining patient recruitment and trial management. These technologies enhance trial efficiency, accuracy, and quality by enabling sophisticated data analysis and management.
Additionally, a more interconnected data ecosystem will facilitate seamless data sharing across platforms, speeding up the market time for new therapies and enhancing patient recruitment by offering a more personalized trial experience. This shift towards patient-centered trials highlights a move towards more inclusive, efficient, and practical clinical research, promising quicker access to life-saving treatments.
Moe Alsumidaie is Chief Editor of The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Moe holds decades of experience in the clinical trials industry. Moe also serves as Head of Research at CliniBiz and Chief Data Scientist at Annex Clinical Corporation.
