Let's talk medical research

May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Today, more than 26 million Americans live with asthma – and every day, 10 Americans die from asthma. Worldwide, up to 30% of people have allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. Chances are, you or someone you know has allergies or asthma – you might even be suffering from seasonal or year-round allergies as you read this. Read more

Since the first controlled clinical trial way back in 1747, researchers have needed patient volunteers to take part. We don't know how difficult it was for James Lind to find 12 sailors willing to try a treatment for scurvy, but we're sure he had to make a strong pitch that focused on the benefit to them as patients. Read more

Clinical trial patient recruitment can be one of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of your trial — but it doesn’t need to be. More and more, sponsors and sites are turning to digital to reach patients and enroll them as efficiently as possible. Here are five keys to making sure your clinical trial patient recruitment strategy is a success. Read more

Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is a rare disease in which the body's immune system attacks the cells of the liver. Like other autoimmune diseases, researchers don't know what causes autoimmune hepatitis for the approximately 90,000 people living with the condition in the U.S. Read more

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, difficult-to-treat lung disease affecting around 100,000 patients in the U.S. While two medications have been approved to slow IPF progression, there are currently no approved treatments that can stop or reverse the disease. Read more

There are more approaches to advertising clinical trials than ever before, from digital advertising, to site databases, to sharing materials in doctors' offices. Unfortunately, trial protocols have become more complex at the same time outreach options have expanded. Despite the best efforts of the industry, 73% of Americans don't even know anyone who has participated in a trial, let alone joined ... Read more

"Reach patients where they are, and not where you want them to be." Read more

Social media is becoming an increasingly common element of any clinical trial patient recruitment strategy — and for good reason. There are 3.2 billion users in the world spending an average of 116 minutes a day on social media. Plus, these platforms make it possible to target specifically people who would be a good fit for your study based on their demographic factors. It can be hard to get ... Read more

Patrick Gee didn't know that there were any problems with his kidneys until a doctor diagnosed him with kidney failure. Years on dialysis, four surgeries, 47 days in the hospital, and one successful kidney transplant later, he's participated in two clinical trials and become a proud advocate for the American Kidney Fund. Read more

Joining a clinical trial is a significant decision, and there are several personal factors to keep in mind when deciding whether to join – not to mention including the opinions of family members and your doctor. Read more