Today, Wednesday, May 20th, we celebrate Clinical Trials Day. It’s the day our industry takes an opportunity to recognize those who work in the clinical trials industry to improve not only the health of patients today but expand available treatment options for patients of the future. It gives us a chance to shine a spotlight on the groundbreaking work in an industry that usually doesn’t get much attention.
The pandemic has made every day Clinical Trials Day. The spotlight on this little-known industry has become brighter. Why? The general public has become aware that getting back to some sense of normalcy requires clinical trials. The study of healthy, sick, and recovered patients is vital in assisting the development of new prevention, diagnostic, and treatment options. We know it requires testing to identify COVID-19 infected patients. It requires testing to bring therapeutics and vaccines to market. And, it requires testing to determine if antibodies for recovering patients will protect them against future infection.
This spotlight is welcome. The Clinical Trials industry needs more attention today than it ever has before. I recently wrote an article that asked the question, “Are Clinical Research Sites the Next Victim of COVID-19?” Just like many industries, COVID-19 has been hard on our industry. We continue to see only a fraction of research sites open to enrollment. Studies continue to be placed on hold, terminated, or are slow to get turned back on. Most importantly, the patient population necessary to move this phase of the clinical trial forward has been hesitant to enroll, even when exciting clinical trial options are available. Recent technological innovations have enabled a small number of decentralized, virtual, or hybrid trial designs. However, there still exists no substitute for in-person visits for certain tests and study procedures.
Remembering the significance of clinical trials in society’s fight against new and existing healthcare threats is critical. At Accel Research Sites, we continue to push new and existing studies forward, as best we can. We recruit, screen, and enroll as many patients possible, but we still need your help.
As we prepare for the influx of COVID studies, one thing is abundantly clear. Patients, sick and healthy, are necessary to move new treatments forward. Success requires a patient population who are ready to take the call and help find a solution, not only for COVID, but for Heart Failure, COPD, Cancer, Migraines, and others. So, here’s my plea on Clinical Trials Day 2020 as things start to reopen, and people start to venture out of their homes again. If you’ve got it and you know it, or even if you don’t, raise your hand. We need you. Create a profile today. www.accelresearchsites.com/get-started.