Let's talk medical research

You found a local clinical trial opportunity that you’d like to participate in, and you passed the trial’s pre-screening process. Now you’re ready to sign an informed consent form and start the study. However, before you sign on, you can ask the study team as many questions as you would like. Here are some ideas to get you started as you’re evaluating the study and making your decision.

May is Lupus Awareness Month, which is an opportunity for the global lupus community to raise awareness of the physical, emotional, and economic impact of lupus. This year, the Lupus Foundation of America is running a campaign to #MakeLupusVisible. The goals are to educate others about lupus, show the world that the lupus community can (virtually) stand together, and promote social media ...

People of color have been (and continue to be) particularly underrepresented in clinical research. Historically, the numbers of clinical trial participants from diverse populations have not reflected real-world populations. The lack of diversity in clinical trials can make it particularly challenging to get a complete picture of a drug’s safety and efficacy. That’s why it’s critical that the ...

Due to COVID-19 vaccine and treatment developments, clinical trials have been in the limelight lately. Before reaching patients, every medical intervention (from common ibuprofen pills to specialized cancer drugs) must pass through clinical trial phases. But what are the phases of clinical trials, and why do they matter? Each clinical trial phase has a different goal and separate hurdles to clear ...

Clinical trial patient recruitment can be challenging, time-consuming, and expensive. That's why it's helpful to have tools on hand that make it easier to reach the right patients. This toolkit keeps the patient at the center of your recruitment plans, whether you're researching the condition for your trial, choosing clinical trial recruitment companies, searching for the perfect outreach ...

“Patient centricity” is a term that you hear a lot in the medical research industry. As defined in a BMJ Innovations article, it means: “Putting the patient first in an open and sustained engagement of the patient to respectfully and compassionately achieve the best experience and outcome for that person and their family.”

The annual Patients as Partners conference, now in its eighth year, has always been one of our favorite meetings to attend because of the care the organizers give to ensure all stakeholders, and especially patients, are represented on the agenda. Antidote’s Head of Partnerships and Patient Advocacy, Lindsey Wahlstrom-Edwards, attended this year’s virtual conference and shared her key takeaways.

Clinical trial patient recruitment can be difficult for sponsors to get right, but having a mix of strategies in your pocket can help. With limited budgets, you may not feel like you have the space for much trial and error. Carefully reviewing your options to figure out what's best for your specific needs can help you find the right options and avoid issues down the line.

When it comes to living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you don’t have to feel alone. More than 16 million Americans have COPD, and many more people are living with it undiagnosed. There are a variety of COPD resources and support networks out there, all with an array of benefits. We explore the importance of joining a COPD support group and share easy-to-access resources for ...

Healthcare equity for ethnic and racial minorities has been front and center in the media as of late. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminates some of the glaring issues that our healthcare system faces when it comes to the treatment of minority populations.