How Are Decentralized (Virtual) Trials Improving Clinical Efficiency?

By Karen Roy

Decentralized Clinical Trials: A Terrible Name for a Promising Innovation

When it comes to improving clinical trial efficiency, as well as promising a host of other benefits for patients and researchers, decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) have quickly dominated industry discussions and activities. In large part accelerated by the global pandemic, DCTs will play a key role improving clinical trials – but come with a host of challenges, according to our panelists.

And if our panelists had their way, the name decentralized clinical trial itself would disappear.

Why? While our industry has adopted decentralized clinical trials as the name for this approach, it really means nothing since clinical research has been decentralized for decades. Every trial has multiple vendors and investigative sites that are in various regions or countries. The DCT name detracts from our real goal: bringing clinical research closer to the patient and into their homes, making it far easier to participate in clinical trials based on their personal preferences.