Strategies Sought for Reducing Cost, Improving Efficiency of Clinical Research

KEYWORDS:
• BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
• CLINICAL TRIALS AS TOPIC
• COSTS AND COST ANALYSIS
• DRUG THERAPY
• EFFICIENCY
• ETHICS, RESEARCH
• INFORMED CONSENT
• INTERNET
• RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS AS TOPIC

As research and development costs continue to climb, the federal government, university research centers, and private industry are looking for innovative ways to conduct clinical studies.

Randomized controlled trials, considered the most reliable source of unbiased information about whether a potential therapy is safe and effective, are costly and slow endeavors. Limitations such as the use of paper-based methods rather than digital tools and the expensive and time-consuming process of recruiting, retaining, and tracking participants can too often narrow the scope of investigation and delay possible drug approvals or shifts in treatment strategies when a method is ultimately proven not to work.

Researchers are studying whether clinical research can be conducted electronically, allowing enrollees to remain in their homes rather than having to visit a study center.

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But efforts are under way to harness the opportunities offered by the Internet and digital technologies such as smartphones and computers and apply …