Clinical research and trials have come a long way in the last decade. Knowledge gained from research has helped discover new drugs and has uncovered cures for many challenging conditions. Improved medical practices and custom healthcare solutions that meet individual needs have defined outcomes and changed the lives of patients forever.
2018 will be an exciting year with new methods, regulations, and technology expected to significantly impact clinical research. What new trends are emerging? What should you look out for?
Here Are 4 Trends In Clinical Research In 2018.
1. Patient Centricity
New trends in clinical research suggest that patient-centric clinical trials will be on the rise in 2018. More and more patients are using the internet to get information on how they can be actively involved in all matters concerning their clinical trials.
Patient support groups have been formed to discuss illnesses and available treatment options that will improve quality of life and help patients live a full and normal life. In 2018, you are likely to see a rise in specialized patient-centric technologies that will make the participant’s journey through the research process as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
The use of real-time feedback such as social media will also help participants raise their concerns if they feel that something is not working correctly.
2. Adaptive Trials
Adaptive clinical trials are studies that evaluate medical treatments and also allow for modifications after observing the participants outcomes. This new trend will significantly impact the way clinical research is conducted in that there will be more flexibility. Adaptive designs will foster shorter timelines to drug approvals and participant’s response to new drug supply will be utilized to modify an ongoing trial.
3. Adopting Electronic Records
Technological involvement in clinical research has been an ongoing trend for years. In 2018, you can expect the industry to go paperless as the adoption of electronic records increases. Electronic records will make searching and analyzing easier and the cost of data management of new drug applications will also reduce. Technology giants such as Amazon and Google are also at the forefront of developing extensive technology platforms that will scale clinical processes.
4. Industry Collaboration
Various stakeholders in the clinical research industry have shown their desire for industry collaboration. In 2018, we are likely to see better communication between the Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and the research sponsors. These collaborations will result in improved clinical trial quality and reduced time wastage. Industry collaborations will also increase career development opportunities and professional advancement.
Gone are the days when sites were left to interpret job titles by themselves. Today, research companies are looking to hire professionals with the actual skill set and are properly trained for specific roles in the clinical trials industry.
Conclusion
There you have it, trends in clinical research in 2018. Looking for a specialist in clinical pharmacology? Hammersmith Medicines Research is a clinical research organization that offers a wide range of trials. With over 650 early phase trials successfully completed, and several international awards under their belt, Hammersmith Medicines Research is unmatched.
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