Decentralized Clinical Trials Are Closer Than You Think

By Jennifer Duff, General Manager, Zelta (by Merative)

A decentralized clinical trial (DCT) is a popular buzzword right now, but behind the buzz is the usual mix of noise and confusion. For example, a DCT doesn’t mean decentralizing everything. In fact, fully decentralized or virtual trials are relatively rare. Far more common is a hybrid approach that mixes elements of both on-site and remote capabilities. For example, a more realistic DCT study may feature electronic consent (e-consent), data collected directly from wearable devices, televisits and sample collection at a local pharmacy, while still requiring a portion of research data to be captured during specific visits to an investigator site.