DIA in review: Charting new horizons in clinical trials

Antidote was thrilled to attend the 2024 DIA Conference in San Diego last week! Not only was it a lovely opportunity to connect with many industry professionals and learn from experts, but it was also the celebration of 60 years of DIA. In case you missed it, we’re sharing some of our key takeaways from the four-day event, which focused on charting new horizons in clinical trials.

Busting myths about DEI in clinical research

DEI is one of the most commonly discussed topics in medical research, but there are many perceived barriers to implementing truly inclusive recruiting practices. In a talk by professionals from PPD, Genentech, H1, and Flourish Research, they discussed many of the challenges and myths surrounding DEI. They shared insights for improvements that can be made at every level, focusing on how making inclusive budget decisions early decisions can make diverse recruitment decisions easier. 

Centering the patient experience with CAR T-cell therapy

Tom and Emily Whitehead conducted one of the most touching talks of the conference. Emily was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was five years old. After exhausting all treatment options, her parents, Tom and Kari, heard of an experimental CAR T-cell therapy available as a Phase 1 clinical trial. After enrolling, Emily became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive this therapy. Though it was highly experimental, it was also highly effective, and Emily has remained cancer-free to this day. The discussion centered around the importance of ongoing research and prioritizing the patient experience for individuals taking part in clinical trials.

The roles AI can play in clinical trials

While AI is one of the hottest topics of the year, in the case of clinical trials, the buzz around it is well-deserved. One key talk discussed how AI is shaping the future of clinical trials, including the ways it can be used to increase return on investment, increase efficiency, and create more patient-centric participation experiences.