The pharmaceutical industry is facing a critical challenge in clinical research as patient recruitment for trials hits an all-time low, with only 5% of eligible patients participating in clinical studies. To address this pressing issue, INC Research has partnered with the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) to launch an innovative crowdsolving competition - the Inspiring Hope Ideathon.
The two-day event, taking place in Boston's Innovation District, brings together diverse stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem to generate fresh solutions for increasing clinical trial awareness and participation. The competition offers a $10,000 prize for the winning idea.
Critical Need for Trial Participants
The current landscape of clinical research faces a staggering challenge - clinicaltrials.gov indicates a need for approximately 58 million patients to meet current trial demands. Dr. Clare Grace, Vice President of Site and Patient Access at INC Research, emphasizes that this is not merely a healthcare issue but an "everyone" issue.
"Without clinical trial participants, new medicines and discoveries simply wouldn't be possible," states CISCRP Founder Ken Getz. "It is essential that we engage patients and the local healthcare community as partners in the drug development process."
Global Response and Innovation
Since its launch in May, the Ideathon has attracted more than 70 entries from around the world, demonstrating the global recognition of this challenge. Among the 14 finalists is Christine Zahren, Director of Clinical Trials Connect from Victoria, Australia, whose team will present a video and media awareness campaign focused on communicating trial availability and access to cutting-edge therapies.
Healthcare Provider Awareness Gap
The initiative also addresses the crucial need for increased awareness among healthcare professionals. According to the CISCRP 2015 Perceptions & Insights Survey, when patients were asked if they would have participated in trials had they been offered the opportunity, over 70% responded positively, highlighting a significant communication gap in the healthcare system.
Patient Perspective and Accessibility
Keynote speaker Jameisha Brown, a cancer survivor who participated in clinical trials at age eight, brings a powerful personal perspective to the initiative. Now pursuing a PhD in Health Education, Brown advocates for making trial information more culturally and socially accessible to the general population.
Impact on Medical Progress
The importance of clinical trial participation is underscored by historical progress in disease treatment. Cancer survival rates have improved significantly since the 1970s, with two-thirds of patients now surviving five years or more post-diagnosis. However, low trial participation continues to impede the development of new treatments across various therapeutic areas.
The Inspiring Hope Ideathon represents a significant step toward addressing these challenges, bringing together innovative minds to create solutions that could accelerate medical progress and improve patient access to cutting-edge treatments.
