Building the future for clinical trials

Understanding future needs is crucial to providing a roadmap for growth. In June, Acacium Group explored this through a short white paper. ‘A blueprint for tomorrow: Futureproofing clinical research through flexible resourcing’ explores current challenges and solutions that put participants at the heart of research.

To discuss these themes further, we brought together leaders and experts from industry, the NHS, charities and more for a roundtable discussion. The session was chaired by Andrew Roddam, an internationally renowned epidemiologist and former CEO of Our Future Health. We also welcomed special guest Lord James O’Shaughnessy, the author of the government-commissioned ‘Commercial Clinical Trials in the UK: the Lord O’Shaughnessy Review’, and one of the UK’s foremost health policy and life science experts. 

The session fostered thought-provoking discussions and the exchange of insights. Participants shared experiences that helped shape a collective vision for the future of clinical trials.

Moving outside of the hospital setting

A key issue facing the industry is the traditional model of conducting trials in hospitals. Our panel highlighted that this methodology limits patient access – particularly for those living long distances from major hospitals. There are many reasons why trials tend to be focused on hospitals. Our panel pointed to the complexity of certain therapy areas, the specialist equipment required, the laborious nature of contracting, and limited workforce flexibility as key drivers. 

The roundtable discussed the pressing need to continue to explore and support decentralised research methods to alleviate pressure on hospitals. This approach worked well during the Covid-19 pandemic when much of healthcare was forced to adopt a hybrid approach. There are great examples of these models being used but the speed of progress has stalled. Old hospital-based models remain the norm.

The UK has well-documented ambitions to be a global leader in life sciences but the panel highlighted how we lag behind some of our international colleagues. Regulatory advancements in countries such as the US allow trials to be conducted in a wider variety of settings such as patient’s homes, reducing geographical and logistical barriers.

Acacium Group is embracing new ways of working by supporting hybrid and decentralised models across life sciences by supporting initiatives such as Our Future Health, a project developed to help researchers find ways to prevent, detect and treat diseases earlier by collecting health information from millions of volunteers across the UK. This project’s scale, depth and detail has made it a world-leading resource for health research. Working in partnerships, our role in this project comprises rapidly mobilising locations and a flexible nationwide workforce, ensuring seamless scalability and operational deployment.

Workforce and flexibility

Another challenge the panel raised is the limited availability of flexible professionals to facilitate hybrid trials. Acacium Group is working with partners around the UK to address this. We continue to leverage our expertise in workforce solutions, managed services and specialist consulting.

Our model addresses the nature of modern clinical trials by enabling rapid deployment and flexible adaptation of trial protocol and participant needs. This bespoke approach involves staffing and resources that scale according to trial phases, ensuring alignment with current needs.

Additionally, we advocate for NHS prioritisation of clinical trials by collaborating closely with stakeholders, seeking adequate resource allocation and support for future initiatives. As clinical trials evolve with hybrid models incorporating virtual and remote methods, there is a demand for a versatile workforce, which requires strategic workforce management. By adopting these strategies, research organisations can remain at the forefront of these advancements.

Diverse patient recruitment

Our panel also discussed the challenge of recruiting diverse and representative patient populations. Traditional recruitment methods often fall short due to limited outreach and engagement. Our roundtable discussion emphasised the need for innovative approaches to engage participants and streamline the trial process, including leveraging digital tools and platforms. The effectiveness of digital trials has shown promise, yet challenges remain in integrating these methods within the existing clinical trial framework.

Primary care has a key role to play here. Working closely with GPs is essential for improving patient recruitment. GPs often face workload and capacity issues that hinder their participation in trial recruitment. With the new Labour government making announcements daily, the Health Secretary has pledged to ‘fix the front door of the NHS’ by injecting funds into GP surgeries. This could lead to GPs playing a bigger role in trial recruitment, relieving cost and time pressures.

Our panel also highlighted the importance of community engagement. Pilot initiatives such as recruiting patients for trials in high street pharmacies have shown potential in enhancing the efficiency and speed of patient recruitment. These initiatives aim to overcome barriers in primary care by bringing trial opportunities closer to patients in more accessible settings.

A look to the future

The roundtable and insights from our recent white paper have highlighted the challenges faced by the life sciences industry. Despite these obstacles, the shift towards hybrid methods and the exploration of innovative approaches to patient recruitment present promising solutions.

At Acacium Group, we are committed to driving innovation and leveraging our expertise in workforce solutions and managed services. Through continuous collaboration and adaptation, we aim to tackle complex challenges and embrace new working methods. We can help to shape a more patient-centric future for clinical trials through collaboration across the healthcare sector.

To learn more about how Acacium Group is supporting the future of clinical trials please reach out via https://acaciumgroup.com/contact-us/ and visit our webpage.