In the rapidly evolving landscape of clinical trials, technology is a game-changer. Dr. Michelle Papka, Ph.D., Founder and President of The Cognitive And Research Center and a leader in Alzheimer’s research, discusses the integration of AI to enhance participant recruitment and engagement. Alongside Tran Le, CEO of Grove AI, they explore the transformative potential of AI, focusing on the implementation of Grove’s AI tool, Grace, and its impact on recruitment processes.
Moe: How does an AI digital staff like Grove’s Grace enhance recruitment and engagement in trials?
Michelle Papka: I’ve recently started using Grove’s digital staff, Grace, and in just over 30 days, we’ve doubled our participant screenings. Grace performs the work of four staff members, significantly increasing our reach and reducing the need for additional staff. Initially, we’re using it with a Facebook campaign, but we plan to expand its use to other databases and collaborations with healthcare organizations. This expansion will further increase our recruitment bandwidth. For instance, by integrating AI with our existing patient database and collaborating with referring physicians, we can streamline the recruitment process, making it more efficient and less reliant on human resources.
Moe: How does AI help ensure inclusivity and diversity in clinical trials?
Michelle Papka: AI is crucial in engaging a diverse population, especially in cognitive impairments trials. The technology is designed to interact with participants to accommodate their needs, such as speaking at a slower pace or handling repetitive questions. Additionally, Grace supports multiple languages, which helps reach participants from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. This adaptability is essential for maintaining inclusivity in our trials. For example, Gracecan switch languages mid-conversation, ensuring that participants feel comfortable and understood, which is vital for accurate data collection and participant retention.
Moe: Can AI-generated transcripts help create predictive models for patient engagement?
Tran Le: The data collected through our AI interactions is analyzed to predict patient engagement, qualification, and satisfaction rates. This predictive capability helps our partners understand participant behavior and improve trial outcomes. We’re continuously exploring innovative ways to leverage this data for better trial management.
Moe: How do you adopt innovative technologies while maintaining compliance?
Tran Le: Our team has extensive experience building health tech tools, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards is a priority from the outset. We maintain HIPAA compliance, encrypt all data, and work closely with IRBs and regulatory bodies. Our cautious approach to scaling and monitoring ensures we meet all necessary regulations while implementing new technologies. This meticulous attention to compliance protects participant data and builds trust with stakeholders, which is crucial for the successful adoption of AI in clinical trials.
Moe: What challenges prompted you to adopt AI technology for recruitment?
Michelle Papka: In Alzheimer’s research, we face high screen failure rates, necessitating a large pool of potential participants. Grove AI helps us efficiently manage this by quickly engaging and filtering candidates. Additionally, staffing challenges in the clinical trial industry make it difficult to maintain the necessary workforce. Grove AI allows us to optimize the use of our specialized staff, focusing their efforts on qualified leads, which is crucial for effective recruitment. For example, Grace can quickly identify and eliminate non-viable leads, allowing our team to concentrate on high-potential candidates, thus maximizing our recruitment efforts.
Moe: How do you measure the success of implementing these novel technologies?
Michelle Papka: Success is measured by the number of randomizations, which is the ultimate goal. We track metrics from the top to the bottom of the recruitment funnel, assessing how quickly and effectively we can move participants through the process. Feedback from participants and staff also plays a vital role in evaluating the success of these technologies. By analyzing these metrics, we can make informed decisions about where to allocate resources, ensuring that our recruitment strategies are practical and efficient.
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.
