Shifting the Center of Decentralized Trials

The onset of COVID-19 fostered a rapid change in the practice of clinical trials. With a sudden emphasis on supporting remote monitoring and an intense focus on at home care, we have seen a pronounced shift in the direction of decentralized trials. Funding for addressing these challenges has propelled the growth of new eClinical technologies like ePRO. With the global state of emergency waning, industry players are taking stock of these new practices and reevaluating how best to fit them into more traditional strategies for conducting clinical research.

What we are seeing is a shift from the entirely patient-centric model, back towards sites. Hybrid trials, utilizing a combination of these strategies, are becoming more common and while our previous area of focus was on CROs, then patients, we are now hearing of an increased interest in solutions that target the needs of sites.

This is where we’re headed next. Sites have long shouldered the burden of technology when they should be comfortably supported by it. The push to decentralize trials has only increased the range of technologies that sites are asked to incorporate into their work to support clinical research; and in many cases, made their lives more difficult not easier. Sites need solutions that target their needs, like more streamlined reimbursement throughout the life of the trial. Solutions that improve relationship management by providing tools that are cleanly integrated with video conferencing. They need better oversight and clarity in their regulatory commitments, and the ability to comfortably participate in remote monitoring visits.

A renewed interest in the support of clinical sites opens up new possibilities in the growth of eClinical technologies as we identify and address the challenges of all participants involved with new solutions. If you have thoughts or comments on where our industry should be targeting our efforts reach out to the team at Fountayn to see what we’re working on.