Have you ever thought about how technology is transforming medical research? These can be wearable and AI, and they are transforming clinical trials and leading to new and better treatments. Lets look into a few of the most promising technologies that are changing the face of medical research and how this may impact you as a potential clinical trial participant.
Wearable tech – what is this?
Wearable tech, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, has become more popular in the past few years. But did you know they also play an important role in medical research?
What are they? Wearable devices are portable gadgets that you can latch onto your body. They are able to track different health indicators, including heart rate, quality of sleep, and level of activity.
How do they help? In clinical trials, wearable devices help researchers gather real-time information about your health without requiring you to go to a clinic on a regular basis. This means:
- These changes will allow you to collect data more accurately and continuously
- This is less taxing on you as a participant in a clinical trial
- trends
Potential patient benefits: Wearables can help treat more patients through trials, especially for individuals who live far away from research centres or have mobility issues. They also give a broader snapshot of your health, making for more tailored treatment strategies.
Imaging Technologies: Peering Inside the Body
Imaging technology of all kinds has come a long way, and researchers are now able to peer into the human body like never before, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and more personalized treatment.
There are many types commonly used in normal clinical practice as well as in clinical trials such as, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT (Computed Tomography) scans, and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans.
How do they help? These technologies enable researchers to:
- Track treatments’ effects as they happen
- Identify changes not visible via other means
Patient benefits: For you as a patient, these advanced imaging techniques may mean:
- More accurate diagnoses
- Less invasive procedures
- Possibly shorter trial times since researchers can see results sooner
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: The Brains Behind the Data
We refer here to global knowledge systems powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to enable researchers to discover insights through exploring large quantities of medical data, transforming the way they analyse and interpret data.
What are they? AI means computer systems that are able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Machine Learning — a subset of AI that enables systems to learn and adapt from experience.
How do they help? AI and Machine Learning in Medical Research:
- Fast, accurate analysis of big data sets
- Detect patterns that are missed by humans
- Predict response to treatment and patient outcomes
Benefits to the patient: AI has the potential to make advances in clinical trials through:
- More tailored treatment plans
- Development of new therapies quicker
- Enhancing patient safety with improved adverse effect prediction
Data Analysis Tools: Data Analysis Using Smaller Tools
The growing volume of data generated from clinical trials has necessitated the advancement of data analysis tools.
What are they? These are software and platforms aimed at processing, analysing, and visualising complex datasets.
How do they help? With data analysis tools, researchers can:
- Handle large volumes of data rapidly
- Pinpoint trends and correlations
- Improve decision-making on treatment effectiveness
Patient benefits: From your perspective, that means:
- Shorter trial times, as results can be analysed quicker
- More precise inferences regarding treatment efficacy (how well the drug works)
- Better safety due to the issues being identified earlier
Sequencing Technologies: Decoding the Genome
Gene sequencing technologies are transforming our understanding of diseases and how to treat them.
What are they? These technologies permit researchers to “read” your genetic code and detect variations that might impact your health or your response to treatments.
How do they help? Gene sequencing can:
- Determine tests for diseases with genetic causes
- Using this, in an ideal future, we may be able to predict how you might respond to certain treatments
- Drive forward experimental therapies in a targeted way
Patient Benefits: Gene sequencing in clinical trials may result in:
- More targeted therapies rooted in your genetic makeup
- Better insights into why certain treatments work for some and not for others
Ethics: Progress vs. Privacy
As we adopt these new technologies, we must consider the ethical implications:
- Data privacy: Because so much of your personal health data is being collected, your privacy protection is paramount. Your data needs to be stored and transmitted using secure systems by researchers.
- Access equity: There is a potential for these advanced technologies only to be available to certain groups and to exclude others who may benefit from medical research. It is important to do all we can so that these technologies — and the treatments they help create — are equitable and accessible.
Advent of Precision Medicine and Decentralised Trials
The technologies we’ve just discussed are enabling two of the largest advances in medical research:
- Precision medicine: An approach, precise to your individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, that customizes treatments for you. The technologies we’ve talked about are making this more and more possible.
- Decentralised trials: These are clinical trials conducted mainly outside traditional research centres– often in your own home. Tools such as wearables and remote monitoring are enabling this and bringing greater access to clinical trials to a larger segment of the population.
The continued evolution of these technologies favours a more efficient and effective, patient-friendly, and human-centred approach to medical research. And if you are thinking about joining a clinical trial or just want to know more about the future of healthcare, these modernisations provide fascinating opportunities for more effective health treatments and health outcomes.
So keep in mind, as machine learning is changing the game for medical research, everything is still in service to one thing: you, the patient. People like you taking part in clinical trials, whether they involve space-age tech or tried-and-tested approaches, have critically expanded our understanding of health conditions