Are Traditional Clinical Trials on the Brink of Obsolescence?

Imagine a world where the tediousness of traditional clinical trials fades into history. No more regimented site visits, excessive travel, or endless paperwork. Instead, researchers collect your health data seamlessly as you go about your life, aided by smartwatches, fitness trackers, and a sprinkle of artificial intelligence. This tantalizing vision is at the heart of our latest episode of ‘Hypothesize That!’, which boldly questions if traditional clinical trials are on their way out, replaced by fully decentralised, virtual alternatives.

In this episode we bring together two experts, Lewis Millen, UCB's Global Clinical Sciences and Operations Innovation Lead, and Craig Lipset, Co-chair of the Decentralised Trials and Research Alliance, to challenge and unpack this notion. First, they tackle the elephant in the room: the outdated, often inaccessible nature of site-based trials. For years, clinical research has struggled with inclusivity. Geographic and financial barriers prevent many patients from participating. Decentralisation, the guests loosely agree, could be our ticket to fixing this. By using tech already embedded in daily life, such as Fitbits or Apple Watches, trials could not only be more convenient but potentially more equitable.

But before we allow ourselves to dream of this utopia, Lewis and Craig urge caution. They don’t sugarcoat the challenges. Craig points out that even the coolest tech innovations stumble without trust. Patient privacy and data security must be ironclad. Lewis agrees and emphasises that no matter how tech-laden the future becomes, the human touch cannot be sidelined. A key takeaway? Patients want choice. Whether it’s AI-enhanced data analysis or age-old face-to-face consultations, participants’ comfort should remain central.

What becomes clear as you listen is the inherent push and pull of innovation versus tradition. Craig posits that decentralisation has the potential to empower patients and reduce barriers, but he tempers this with the reality that fully virtual trials might not be feasible for everyone just yet. Lewis, advocating for a “human-centric” approach, envisions a hybrid model where the site-based and virtual coexist gracefully.

Will virtualised trials truly make traditional one’s relics of a bygone era? The verdict isn’t clear-cut, but the potential implications are as captivating as they are complex. For the full debate and the guests’ final conclusions, hit play on this episode. Don't forget to chime in on social media with #HypothesizeThat and share your perspective on what you think the future holds for clinical trials!

You can listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7rxqfcTxaLF1idDeeTBRh8

IE-OT-2500038 | June 2025