Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into clinical trial operations, transforming the way pharmaceutical companies conduct research. The recent Outsourcing in Clinical Trials New England conference, held from 23–24 October, focused on the impact of AI on clinical operations and discussed the challenges and opportunities it presents.
Industry experts who gathered at the conference highlighted how AI is likely to become a crucial component in streamlining clinical trials. Manny Lazaro, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations and Data Management at Cerevel Therapeutics, noted the industry's historically slow adoption of new technologies. He expressed optimism, however, that AI might break this trend, unlike other diminishing innovations, such as decentralised clinical trials and the usage of electronic clinical outcome assessments (eCOA) and electronic consent (eConsent) forms.
At the conference, Brian Wehrle, Vice President of R&D Imaging at Clario, a clinical research organisation based in Philadelphia, detailed specific applications of AI in their operations. Clario utilises AI for tasks such as image de-identification and the analysis of historical trial protocols. Wehrle cautioned that while the integration of AI into clinical operations is worthwhile, it requires continuous adaptation and effort, as AI technologies evolve rapidly. He mentioned the frequent need to update coding practices to keep pace with technological advancements.
As AI technology becomes ingrained in clinical research processes, the requirements for human expertise are expected to shift. Lazaro anticipates that employers will value employees with strong analytical skills capable of handling extensive datasets. Moreover, Harry Barnett, Executive Chairman at Lubris BioPharma in Framingham, Massachusetts, suggested that AI could help lower the primary expense of multi-centre clinical trials, which is labour costs, by leveraging automated alternatives like chatbots.
The conference, now in its 16th edition, was organised by Arena International Events Group, part of the GlobalData network that includes Clinical Trials Arena and Pharmaceutical Technology. The event served as a platform for professionals across the industry to exchange ideas on how AI could reshape the future of clinical trials and pharmaceutical research, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective clinical operations.
Source: Noah Wire Services