Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking every industry by storm, including clinical research. In an industry where time is money, and medical advancements are on the line, a means to increase accuracy and efficiency is the hot topic of the moment. Can we use AI to streamline data management review? Can we apply AI technology to more efficiently author study documents? Can AI tools in the database help lessen the burden on sites and patients?
The possibilities seem limitless but are often met with more questions. As with any innovative technology, we hope it will make our lives easier. However, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge the potential downfalls of such a powerful tool.
As Clinical Data Managers, we can envision the pros and cons of AI. Presented at industry events as an “exciting new tool for the future” – promising to cut down on our workload, particularly on mundane tasks - we’re all ears. Yet we can’t help but wonder – are we promoting a technology that will replace us?
However, if we approach this new technology as a way to make everyday tasks more efficient, think of all the new second-level analyses that may unfold. If we use an AI platform, such as Medidata Clinical Data Studios (CDS), it could give us more time to dig into more complicated data issues and discrepancies. For example, hours of manual review are saved when Medidata CDS flags potential discrepancies between concomitant medications and adverse events. Other ways in which AI tools can enhance and accelerate DM trial activities were recently described in our Thought Leadership piece, AI Driven Tools Enhance Data Management.
At a full-service Clinical Research Organization such as PROMETRIKA, we have various departments that are eager to explore AI technologies (e.g., Dashboards for Medical Monitor Review, Dashboards for Clinical Review, and real-time smart listings for Data Management review). As a client-facing organization, we see opportunities for our clients to save time and money by utilizing such platforms. In a world of drastically condensed and evolving timelines, we need to promote technology that will benefit PROMETRIKA and Sponsors, which in turn benefits patients.
