The importance of clinical trials is undisputed. They are essential to moving medical research forward, helping researchers evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new and potentially life-changing medicines, treatments and procedures. However, despite the focus of clinical trials on medical innovation, there have been few changes in the way the studies themselves are conducted.
Clinical trials are rarely fast or inexpensive to conduct. Recruiting qualified participants can also be challenging, particularly when a study focuses on a rare condition or requires volunteers to meet highly specific eligibility criteria. These realities can delay research, increase costs, and make it more difficult to gather the diverse, representative data needed to move promising treatments forward.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and biomarkers are beginning to address many of these longstanding challenges. These tools are transforming these studies, making them faster, more affordable, and more personalized. Read on to learn more about these technologies and how they are making a difference.
Artificial intelligence refers to computer technology that can do tasks that would usually require human brainpower. Machines can learn huge amounts of data, understand human language, recognize patterns, and make decisions. They can do all of this in seconds and, typically, more accurately than a human would.
Biomarkers, or biological markers, are any measurable indicators of a biological condition or state. They act as clues that scientists and doctors can rely on to track bodily processes, measure how the body responds to treatment, or pinpoint diseases. Cholesterol level, blood pressure, and specific DNA sequences are all biomarkers.
AI and biomarkers are assisting clinical trials of all types, making them safer and capable of offering more targeted results.
One of the most difficult aspects of clinical trials is finding the right participants. It can mean searching through thousands of medical records, slowing down the process of starting the actual study.
AI and biomarkers work together to find the right patients for the trial. By zeroing in on one particular biomarker, AI can scan millions of patient records in seconds and find those who fit the parameters. For example, if there’s a particular gene that trial participants must have, AI will be much faster at spotting patients with that gene.
Additionally, AI can predict who is more likely to finish the trial. Patients who drop out of studies slow the process down, as well. AI looks at historical patient data to pinpoint those who could potentially complete the trial.
These two types of technologies function as high-speed data detectives. AI rapidly tracks biomarkers and their changes throughout the clinical trial, flagging issues and finding hidden patterns. This is essential in spotting whether a medication or procedure makes a difference when treating a disease.
Until AI was available, trial creators had to wait until it was over to have results. Now, AI uses biomarker clues to predict results much more easily. This can save time and money, since it can stop medications or other treatments from moving on to more expensive, late-stage trials.
AI can also catch side effects early. It can protect participants from unsafe trial drugs by predicting how they will continue to impact the person based on changes in biomarkers.
By using AI and biomarkers, scientists can create “digital twins.” These are digital models of patients. AI then runs tests on these models as a sort of pre-trial to see if any changes in parameters or participants are needed. It’s a process that can save time and significant amounts of money when running a clinical trial.
Designing a study’s protocols takes time and effort. AI can help pick the right design style from the start. If a decentralized trial would be more likely to improve patient retention, for example, AI can spot this based on the predicted behaviors of participants and suggest hybrid trial models.
At Orlando Clinical Research, we offer state-of-the-art facilities for Phase I through Phase IV trials. We have a variety of current studies and are always ready to support medical research.
Whether you’re looking to start a trial or you’d like to participate in one of our ongoing studies, contact us today to learn more.
