R.grid’s Post

Our time at the HLTH Europe conference in Amsterdam connected us with many inspiring companies in the health landscape. It also showed us that the medical research industry, particularly pharma, is very open to adopting AI solutions. We’ve seen increasing activity in drug discovery, before clinical trials, across both the life science industry and startups. 💊 Google DeepMind's Isomorphic lab launched Alphafold in recent months, highlighting the potential of AI for protein structure modelling (https://lnkd.in/eaxxjdgk), and several startups have recently highlighted AI in drug discovery as well (https://www.outsourcing https://lnkd.in/ei4dhYPu). 💊This progress is moving us closer to the full automation of drug discovery. This means faster development of treatments and interventions for people that need them the most. However, clinical trials still have the same bottlenecks that slow the progression of these innovations to market for all of us. 💊 At R.grid we are genuinely excited for the enormous opportunity and head start we have in clinical trials that shapes this landscape. These events always reinforce that we are on the right path, paving the way for advanced automation in clinical trials collaboratively! Thanks to all of our pioneering partners that are making this progress a reality! Thank you to the Google for Startups and Google Health team for hosting us for the week and to the HLTH conference organizers! It was great to meet Google Health’s Chief Health Officer, Karen DeSalvo, the VP of Product and Search, Cait O'Riordan, and the Director of Google Health, Susan Thomas, at a roundtable on what’s next in AI health and how startups like ours play a role!

Last week was Co-Production Week, highlighting the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders in shaping health services. The NHS defines co-production as "an equal partnership approach involving users of health and care services, carers, and communities from the earliest stages of service design, development, and evaluation." According to the British Medical Association, co-production forms the foundation of safe, effective, inclusive, accessible, and efficient healthcare. Co-production plays a vital role in improving research outcomes and promoting good practices. A public involvement activity that increases patient recruitment and retention and helps avoid one protocol amendment can lead to an increase in net present value of $62 million. (Parexel, Patients as Partners 2023). Effective co-production has the power to: 🤝 Set relevant research priorities 🤝  Increase participant confidence and trust 🤝  Make research more beneficial for target patient populations 🤝  Influence health policy changes Here are some actionable tips for incorporating co-production into research projects: ✔ Planning and accessible infrastructure - identify areas that would benefit from co-production and set up an accessible centralized infrastructure to include a variety of participants and reduce the participation burden ✔ Comprehensive training - train staff in co-production methods, including language, culture, or sensitivity training, and collaborate with public engagement consultants and vendors to deliver tailored training. ✔ Continuous involvement - include your stakeholders from the earliest stages of a project, continuously gathering their feedback and input. ✔ Diverse engagement - develop long-standing, reciprocal relationships with communities and collaborate with diverse group of patients, carers, and service users. ✔  Use support - take advantage of technology solutions co-created with all levels of industry stakeholders to streamline your co-production. #CoproductionWeek #Coproduction #WhatsMissing #Engagement

This quarter has seen several new reports and movement in the industry on diversifying and widening access to trials - all indicate that R.grid's automation engine is moving the needle in the right direction to make trials faster and more successful for everyone. Below are 4 key indicators across the industry: 1️⃣   Big pharma & local pharmacies >> Our tech is supporting community engagement in the new partnership between Boehringer Ingelheim, Walgreens and our partners at EmVenio Research. This shows how valuable it can be to extend beyond traditional methods and source participation from the community.(https://lnkd.in/ePxucWbZ) 2️⃣ Government medical research agency >> The National Institutes of Health has further highlighted the importance of finding and meeting people where they are and issued a $30 million, two-year pilot program to set up clinical research at primary care facilities in communities with underserved patient populations.(https://lnkd.in/eQE6uY2P) 3️⃣ Regulator >> The FDA published new draft guidance on their Diversity Action Plans Required for Certain Clinical Studies, designed to increase clinical study enrolment of historically underrepresented populations to improve the data, safety, and efficacy of research across all populations.(https://lnkd.in/e3YFw44V) 4️⃣ Consultancy >> A report published today by Trinity Life Sciences indicates that clinical trial sponsors are impeded by mistrust in the healthcare system in diverse communities. Again, this highlights the importance of community engagement to build trust. (https://lnkd.in/e6h5gJxC) Explore ways that we can support your trial planning, partners, or data to expand your reach at https://rgrid.tech/

The FDA has just published new draft guidance on their Diversity Action Plans Required for Certain Clinical Studies. FDA Commissioner, Robert M. Califf, M.D., stated “Participants in clinical trials should be representative of the patients who will use the medical products”. So what does this mean for trials? 🎯 The action plan is designed to "increase clinical study enrollment of participants of historically underrepresented populations to help improve the data the agency receives about the patients who may potentially use the medical product."  This will further improve the data, safety and efficacy of products for patients. ✅ Diversity Action Plans must specify the sponsor’s rationale and goals for clinical study enrollment (separated by the age group, ethnicity, sex and race of clinically relevant study populations) ✅ The plans must also describe how the sponsor intends to meet and expand on those goals. ✅ The plans apply to phase 3 studies or, as appropriate, other pivotal clinical studies of a drug or biological product and devices, including where the primary basis for the FDA’s evaluation is the safety and effectiveness and benefit-risk. ✅ The Diversity Action Plan requirment applies to clinical studies where enrollment starts 180 days the FDA publishes the final guidance The plan also has faced some criticism for falling short in some areas. For example: ⚡ There aren't clear consequences for sponsors who fail to meet their DEI action plan goals ⚡ A risk of budget and resource allocation issues in adding the new requirements to trial plans and how it might impact the effectiveness of the plans and solutions ⚡ The extent to which it applies beyond phase 3 drug and device trials is still foggy for sponsors. How can we support? 💡 Reach: Our system offers global reach to over 90,000 diverse communities across 157 countries and 2,700 indications. 💡 Planning: We can support with administrative automation of preparing your plans and actionable milestones. 💡 Partners: We can connect you to a number of our fantastic partners who engage and collaborate with underrepresented groups on the ground globally. The link to the FDA's draft Diversity Action Plan guidance is in the comments.

Flash back to South Summit in Madrid, where we spent a few days with some of the latest innovations in tech. Event Highlights: 💡Steven Bartlett's roadmap to success 💡Reconnecting with Google AI for Health and Google BFF alumni 💡Networking with fellow health tech founders 💡Meeting new investors Our key takeaways: 🎯Digital transformation holds immense potential for healthcare and clinical research 🎯 Strategic innovation is driving more efficient, accurate, and inclusive outcomes 🎯Our automation engine is ahead of it's time in making clinical trials faster and more successful for admin-free clinical trials Thanks to the Google for Startups for the invitation!

Pride Month is an opportunity to recognize how far the LGBTQ+ community and allyship have come, while also acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. Healthcare and clinical trials are a crucial area that still requires attention: 📌 1 in 8 LGBTQ+ people have experienced or feared discrimination when seeking medical care, often leading to avoidance of treatment required. (Stonewall, 2018). 📌 Nearly 50% of trans people and 55% of non-binary people said that their GP did not have a good understanding of their needs (Stonewall, 2018). 📌 Sexual and gender minorities are not proportionally represented in trials (DPharm, 2023). 📌 Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has reported that Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity data isn't actively collected in clinical trials (2023). Effective community engagement is the first step to fostering PRIDE in clinical trials and healthcare. R.grid's system offers reach to more than 1,150 LGBTQ+ communities, with over 30 million members. We are proud to be a tech ally in the effort to better communicate the needs of LGBTQ+ people, facilitate mutual respect and understanding with healthcare professionals, and promote equitable access to healthcare for all. Here are some of our more immediately actionable tips to improve LGBTQ+ equity in clinical trials: ✅ Planning - having a relationship with external service agencies for LGBTQ-specific services and culturally tailored proposals ✅ Language - using inclusive, affirming, and culturally sensitive/appropriate terminology ✅ Inclusive Forms - Including gender identity, sex at birth, a pronoun field, preferred or chosen name field, and sexual orientation field on forms ✅ Accessibility in clinics - offering gender-neutral bathrooms, training for staff to address barriers, stigma, distrust in health systems, etc.

🗓 Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. 🌐 Juneteenth is an important celebration of Black freedom that helps recognize the progress made toward the ongoing fight for equality. It is also a crucial time to highlight the need for continuous work in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion across all domains, including healthcare and clinical research. 🤝 At Research Grid, we support more representative and inclusive research initiatives by changing the experience and impact of participation and engaging communities to ensure all voices are heard. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and our partners, recognizing their profound contributions and the urgent need to address persistent systemic inequities in healthcare and beyond. Happy Juneteenth! #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #Equality

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a disease that progressively attacks motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, that tell muscles what to do - from walking to breathing. However, most often, cognitive abilities remain intact. The ALS Association estimates that every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS, and passes away from it. This makes ALS particularly devastating with complex, rapidly changing care needs. Life expectancy after diagnosis is typically 2-4 years, and in the later stages of the illness, patients require significant carer support. Research Grid Founder and CEO, Amber Michelle H., recently shared her expertise and insights on ALS, a condition that she researched as a neuroscientist in her early career, with Essence Magazine. The article, by Ebony Flake, explores the challenges of caring for a loved one with ALS and the resources and support required for long-term care. In the interview, Dr Hill highlighted: 💡 The extraordinary resilience of people and families living with ALS 💡 Why rare conditions like ALS need greater attention 💡 The many ways you can lend a helping hand 💡 The importance of disability education and awareness The impact of rare diseases, like ALS on families and communities is far-reaching. At R.grid, we are proud to support over 7,000 diverse communities worldwide in their efforts to engage in research, raise awareness, and improve the lives of patients affected by rare diseases. Read and share the full article: https://lnkd.in/ekR9sekq #rarediseases #ALS #MND #LouGehrigdisease #alsawareness

Next week, R.grid CEO Amber Michelle H. will join our partners EmVenio Research for a webinar by PCM TRIALS - Quality Mobile Research exploring how mobile visits, community sites, and AI are increasing community engagement and overall trial efficiency. Dr. Hill will be speaking about the role of AI in broadening diverse community engagement, accessible patient recruitment and retention, and automating the back office tasks involved in the success of these activities in clinical trials. Learning Objectives: 💡 Understand the importance of diversity in clinical trials and its influence on research outcomes. 💡Examine the challenges traditional clinical models face in recruiting and retaining diverse participant populations. 💡Discover the benefits of mobile visits and community-based sites, supported by new data highlighting their positive impact on accessibility and inclusivity in clinical trials. 💡 Identify strategies for the effective implementation of mobile visits and community-based sites. 💡 Explore how AI and technology can boost community engagement and broaden patient recruitment and retention in clinical trials. Speakers: 🗣 Michelle Mallitz, MD, Principle Investigator at EmVenio Research 🗣 Amber Michelle H., CEO at R.grid 🗣 Ellen Weiss, Strategy Decentralized Trials at PCM TRIALS - Quality Mobile Research 🗣 Tajuana Barron, VP Project Management at PCM Trials Tune in to the webinar to learn more about the ways R.grid is making clinical trials faster and more successful. 🌐 Webinar: Access for All: How Mobile Visits, Community Sites, and AI Support Diversity Goals in Clinical Trials 🗓 Date: 11th June 🕐 Time: 4 pm GMT / 12 pm EDT 📍 Register for free here: https://lnkd.in/gthmQRJ2 #HealthcareInnovation #AIinHealthcare #PatientEngagement #DiversityInResearch