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EXPANDING REACH & IMPACT

Using Tech to Innovate Decentralized Clinical Trials

Program


Did you know that roughly 70% of potential trial participants live more than two hours from trial sites? Although specific aspects of clinical trials decentralization were in place before the pandemic, COVID-19 has accelerated decentralization and innovative trial design in approaches that are likely here to stay. Decentralization methodologies can create efficiencies, increase engagement, and potentially reduce disparities in clinical trial participation.

While the benefits of decentralized trials are clear, the path to adopting them at scale has been challenging. Further collaboration among stakeholders, including sponsors, investigators, patients, and technology providers will result in continued development of solutions that work to advance patient therapies.

This panel will highlight key technology advances that characterize both decentralized clinical trials and innovative clinical trial design with a focus on the successes, challenges, and effects on the trial participant.

Speakers

  • Todd Harnett, Executive Director & Head of Delivery, North America, THREAD

    Todd Harnett, Executive Director & Head of Delivery, North America, THREAD

    A seasoned client engagement professional with 20+ years’ experience spanning digital health and integrated marketing, Todd has a demonstrated track-record of successfully leading customer and cross-functional teams. Todd is driven by a passion for solving complex problems through bold innovation and a measured approach. In his role leading THREAD’s North America Delivery team, Todd relishes the opportunity to improve clinical trial efficiency, accessibility, and effectiveness by transforming how clinical research is conducted.

  • Emily Mitchell, Executive Director, Decentralized Clinical Trials Operations, ICON plc.

    Emily Mitchell, Executive Director, Decentralized Clinical Trials Operations, ICON plc.

    Emily Mitchell has over 15 years of experience in the CRO industry working in Data Management, Project Management and Clinical Operations. During her tenure at ICON, Emily partnered with an actigraphy vendor to run a pilot study with employees on the wear compliance and comparison of a medical grade activity tracker to a commercial grade version. Just prior to the pandemic, Emily helped setup and support the first fully decentralized trial at ICON. She has continued to present at various conferences around the best practices for decentralized studies, ensuring patient and site burden is minimized while optimizing data capture.

  • Francis D’Souza, MBA, Vice President, Data Solutions, RxDataScience, Syneos Health

    Francis D’Souza, MBA, Vice President, Data Solutions, RxDataScience, Syneos Health

    Francis D’Souza is the Vice President, Data Solutions at RxDataScience, Syneos Health. He has over 25 years of experience in leading digital transformation, building digital products, and implementing digital solutions at Fortune 500 firms such as Xerox, Oracle, Cognizant, Infor for Life Sciences (Human Health, Animal Health, and Medical Device) clients and other Industry Verticals. At RxDatascience he leads Customer Success and Strategy. He is responsible for ensuring that customers realize successful outcomes from AI/ML, Datascience and Advanced Analytics based Intelligent Data Solutions across the Molecule to Market continuum.

  • Noah Goodson, PhD, Director, Consulting, THREAD

    Noah Goodson, PhD, Director, Consulting, THREAD

    Noah is a Director of Consulting and Decentralized Study Design Lead at THREAD. Prior to joining THREAD, Noah helped early stage biotech and medical device companies design and execute hybrid and fully decentralized research. He has worked on projects using nano-technology driven therapeutic delivery systems, medical devices, and diagnostic tools. He is also well versed in the complex business needs of these organizations and has spent significant time in guiding business development and scientific communication strategies with investors.