In November 1985, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes began a clinical trial studying the impact of Botulinum Toxin on involuntary movements, a trial that is still ongoing today. While some clinical trials like this are carried out over several years to capture long-term effects, others just get delayed. Here, Leah Shifra Price, freelance biostatistician at freelance platform for scientists Kolabtree, discusses how a flexible workforce can speed up trials and remove delays.
Clinical research
Whether you’re developing a drug to treat back pain or Alzheimer’s disease, clinical research is never a quick process and it’s frustrating when you face any delay. For instance, you may struggle to get the right number of participants or people may drop out halfway through. Around 85% of clinical trials experience some kind of delay, with 94% of these being delayed by over a month, that is according to global medical supply company MESM.
The challenges of recruitment
There are many reasons why your trial might not work out ─ whether it’s securing funding, accessing a physical location or obtaining statistical significance in a study. Clinical trials also rely on direct recruitment, and this is one of the biggest challenges you can face. “Difficulties with recruitment are very, very common, and some trials are just kicked into touch because they cannot recruit,” explained Shaun Treweek, senior lecturer at the University of Dundee and assistant director of the Tayside Clinical Trials Unit.