FemHealth Integrates Event 18 March 2025 – Part One

A couple of days ago, I attended the FemHealth Integrates event in Manchester – which was excellent. 

I’ve always found it strange that over the last few years the clinical trials industry has been placing such a focus on ethnic diversity and inclusion of people from underrepresented backgrounds, when we’re not even at a stage yet where people who make up 50-51% of the population are represented anywhere near proportionally in trial participation. 

The topics covered by the speakers ranged from addressing this disparity, to such things as underlining how female physiology is different from males – and so women should not simply be viewed as ‘smaller men’ – and how women can be encouraged to both invest and set up new companies in this sector. 

The networking opportunities were as good as the information being shared, and I came away from the event with a good sense of how my local area in particular – the North West of England – is tackling the issues raised. 

What Clinical Trials can Learn from Formula 1 about Teamwork

I’ve been a big Formula 1 fan for many years. 

Indeed, probably foolishly, I considered myself too much of a purist to want to watch the Netflix series, Drive to Survive, when it first aired. And only got into it a few years ago – since when I’ve realised I love it. 

So I’m delighted that the 2025 season has started again today. 

With the first race being in Australia I didn’t catch it live at 4am UK time, but watched the ‘whole of race’ replay at 8am. (No spoilers from me regarding the result!) 

One thing about Formula 1 that has always fascinated me is the way a team of up to 1,000 people are all involved with getting the best out of the cars and drivers on track. 

And it’s this kind of teamwork – with everyone working towards the same goal – that we could probably learn from in both the clinical trials industry, and our lives in general. 

Any Idiot can do Patient Recruitment

I was chatting with a fellow patient recruitment specialist recently, and he used the phrase ‘any idiot can do patient recruitment’.

I won’t reel off the list of names that came into my head that might fit the bill for that comment.

And, of course, I guess my own name should be on that list.

Admittedly, we were discussing the kind of thing he might post as a way to stir up some controversy.

But I think the central point was that, realistically, even people without recruitment experience should be able to recruit one patient.

It’s being able to do it consistently, effectively, and efficiently, that becomes more difficult.

I’d also add that the fundamentals of patient recruitment are not a million miles removed from what might be termed ‘common sense’.

Such that, maybe not ‘any idiot’, but at least anyone with even a small amount of understanding of what it means to be human should be able to implement good practices for attracting trial participants.

Decentralized Trials Have been Downplayed Recently

It’s been interesting to see the downplaying of the phrase DCT – Decentralized Trials – within the industry over the last few years.

Starting with the COVID pandemic, for the next two or three years you couldn’t scroll LinkedIn or attend a conference without DCT seemingly being hyped as the solution to all the problems with clinical trials.

Whereas now, just a short time later – while DCT may not exactly be regarded as a fad – it gets nothing like the sort of coverage it used to. (Indeed, I know of several companies in the field of patient recruitment that have removed any reference to DCT from their promotional materials).

For myself, I think DCT is here to stay. As the main reason it’s probably not so prominent in the ongoing discussion is that many of its elements have been adopted within standard clinical trial practice anyway. Thus making it not so buzz-wordy as it was before.

But no less valuable and effective as a result.

Bergerac for Problem Solving

I recently watched the first few episodes of the new reboot series of Bergerac – a UK detective series set on the island of Jersey. 

One of the scenes had the central character discussing a family issue with his mother-in-law, when something she said sparked a connection in his brain to the ongoing criminal case he was working on. 

This is a classic trope of detective stories – going all the way back to Agatha Christie and beyond – where an element of an unconnected plot strand gives the detective an idea that helps to resolve a sticking point regarding the central mystery. 

Which is a technique I often like to use. Not just for writing stories, also when trying to sort out problems of any sort. 

Looking at an issue from the perspective of another thing that’s going on in your life might just help you come up with a solution you wouldn’t otherwise have thought of. 

Thoughts on the Final Day of the 2025 SCOPE Summit

It’s the fourth and final day of the 2025 SCOPE Summit in Orlando.

From reading the many LinkedIn posts, and being in touch with people who are attending, I can tell it’s gone great. As usual.

I know many attendees have to head home early on the fourth day, but for those of you who are sticking around to the end, it looks like there’s some great sessions still to come.

One thing I’ve always found about conferences is there’s a lot of enthusiasm during the event, with many of the speakers essentially ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’. Which can give the impression there are no issues still left to sort out within the industry.

So my biggest piece of advice to any SCOPE attendees would be to keep that enthusiasm and desire for improvements going after the event. Bringing it into your day to day working life, rather than leaving it behind and settling back into the same old routine.

Thoughts on the 2025 SCOPE Summit day three

One of the highlights that stands out to me for today’s SCOPE Summit is the special book signing during the morning coffee break. I did my own signing in the same slot at last year’s event, and was delighted to have so many people come up and say hi. So I’d be doing the same for today’s authors by going to check out their book about decentralized clinical trials.

The Best of Show winner will be announced before the afternoon sessions – highlighting the innovative solutions that have been developed to help tackle the issues we face in the clinical trials industry.

I’d also be looking to check out some of the AI track sessions today – the first time this track has featured at SCOPE.

And I believe it’s the last opportunity to view the exhibit stands at the end of the day – which I’ve often found is a good time to pick up some free swag and maybe enjoy a drink or two!

SCOPE Summit 2025 – Thoughts Ahead of Day Two

On the second day of this year’s SCOPE Summit, if I was in Orlando I’m pretty sure I would not have been starting off with the 5k Rise and Shine fun run at 6.30 am. Especially after last night’s kick off reception – so, well done to any of you who made it for the run!

I would certainly be looking to visit the exhibit hall several times over the next few days, to catch up with people I know, as well as checking out additional solutions providers in the industry.

Not surprisingly, I’d be paying most attention to the Patient Recruitment and Engagement track. And there’s a session in the Small Biopharma Strategies track that’s also caught my attention, based on Optimizing CRO Partnerships – something myself and my colleague, Jason Gubb, have been involved with through our ClinOpsClarity service.

Jason’s at SCOPE this week, and I know he’d be delighted to talk more about it with anyone while he’s there.

SCOPE Summit 2025 Day One

Unlike many of you, I’m unfortunately not able to attend the SCOPE Summit over the next few days, and am here in a reasonably sunny Manchester rather than there in an almost certainly more sunny Orlando.

I believe it’s the biggest SCOPE yet, with 16 tracks, additional workshops, and around 5000 people in attendance.

If I had been there, I’d have been looking forward to mingling with some of my fellow ClinEco Luminaries in the early afternoon session about that online clinical trials community. Plus I’d have been eagerly watching the keynote presentations and Participant Engagement Awards.

Then rounding off the day with the famous kickoff reception – which this year has a luau theme. I’m not especially noted for my Hawaiian shirts. I leave that to other people in the field of patient recruitment, but maybe if I was there I’d have been able to find a Hawaiian tie?

Anyway, if you’re at SCOPE today – enjoy!

You Should have Respect for the Disease and the Patient Recruitment Process Itself

Respect for the disease or condition that the potential treatment is designed to work on is another essential factor.

When I talk about respect in this regard, I mean being aware of the likely effects and potential complications, including the way a person’s quality of life and lifestyle can be affected by a condition they’re living with.

And overall we should be respectful of the patient recruitment process itself. It can be easy to assume that everything that’s gone before has been badly thought out and was destined to fail from the outset. But when there are so many big brains that have thus far failed to come up with a universal solution, we simply have to accept that patient recruitment is quite difficult, so treating it with respect can only help us come up with better solutions in the future.

I’m off for a Christmas break now. Here’s wishing everyone a happy – and respect-filled – 2024!