Let's talk medical research

Eighteen million American adults live with atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema), a chronic and unpredictable condition that can have a major impact on quality of life. Nearly half of people with atopic dermatitis report that they often or always feel frustrated by their disease, and more than a third say they often or always feel angry or embarrassed by it. New treatment options are needed ...

Running a successful health advocacy blog means being social online, but the day-to-day work of writing and posting can feel lonely. On May 7, the Asthma & Allergy Network brought together online influencers for a chance to swap stories and resources in person at the AAN Influencers Summit. The next day, they advocated for allergy and asthma research priorities on Capitol Hill.

May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Today, more than 26 million Americans live with asthma – and every day, 10 Americans die from asthma. Worldwide, up to 30% of people have allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. Chances are, you or someone you know has allergies or asthma – you might even be suffering from seasonal or year-round allergies as you read this.

Clinical trial patient recruitment can be one of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of your trial — but it doesn’t need to be. More and more, sponsors and sites are turning to digital to reach patients and enroll them as efficiently as possible. Here are five keys to making sure your clinical trial patient recruitment strategy is a success.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, difficult-to-treat lung disease affecting around 100,000 patients in the U.S. While two medications have been approved to slow IPF progression, there are currently no approved treatments that can stop or reverse the disease.

There are more approaches to advertising clinical trials than ever before, from digital advertising, to site databases, to sharing materials in doctors' offices. Unfortunately, trial protocols have become more complex at the same time outreach options have expanded. Despite the best efforts of the industry, 73% of Americans don't even know anyone who has participated in a trial, let alone joined ...

"Reach patients where they are, and not where you want them to be."

Social media is becoming an increasingly common element of any clinical trial patient recruitment strategy — and for good reason. There are 3.2 billion users in the world spending an average of 116 minutes a day on social media. Plus, these platforms make it possible to target specifically people who would be a good fit for your study based on their demographic factors. It can be hard to get ...

Patrick Gee didn't know that there were any problems with his kidneys until a doctor diagnosed him with kidney failure. Years on dialysis, four surgeries, 47 days in the hospital, and one successful kidney transplant later, he's participated in two clinical trials and become a proud advocate for the American Kidney Fund.

Joining a clinical trial is a significant decision, and there are several personal factors to keep in mind when deciding whether to join – not to mention including the opinions of family members and your doctor.