In 1790, with a good horse, it took from four to six days, depending on the weather, to travel from Boston to New York. And nobody complained.
In 1890, it took the fastest steamship six days, four hours, and five minutes to cross the Ocean, so any mail (not e-mail but a piece of paper in an enveloppe) would take at least 10 days when sent from Europe to the US. And nobody complained.
In 2009, and using Fedex, it will take a Pharma company two days and $ 63.41 to send a Protocol update from their Boston office to a site in Amsterdam. And nobody complained.
Also in 2009, it takes about 10 seconds to Twitter a message from New-York to Amsterdam that a plane has landed in the Hudson……
Although I don’t expect Pharma companies to twitter around their clinical study information, there are better ways to disseminate information and to collaborate across Oceans and continents then using Fedex and organizing Investigator meetings. Most of the Clinical Trial Portals (CTPs), or Clinical Investigator Portals, used sofar are mere post-offices where you can collect your mail. That’s it.
But nowadays, using web 2.0 technologies, a Study Portal could do so much more and benefit all participants, Sponsors, Site personnel and Study subjects alike.
Imagine a Sponsor who could use a Clinical Trial Webportal to Post Protocol updates, the Portal would notify all Investigators, and would track who has opened the Protocol update. In a Study with 100 sites, this single action would allow a protocol update to be available within seconds and save $ 6,341.
Imagine an Investigator who would only need to logon once and have access to all information of a Study (or any other Study of that same Sponsor). Who would be able to share information with his Sponsor’s contact, colleague Investigator or perhaps his group of Study Subjects. Or have access to Training documentation or videos. Or who would be able to search a Forum to see how his collaegues in this study have handled a certain situation and discuss problems, experiences and ideas.
Imagine a Medical Device study where Patients would be able to learn from the experience of other patients in the study. Or where the Sponsor could benefit by learning from the actual experience of their patients using their device. Or where patients might get a text message as a reminder not to forget something.
If you are intrigued by how these new technologies can enhance your Clinical Study workflow and facilitate collaboration among all parties involved in a study, then don’t hesitate to contact Thorin or have a look at www.study-portal.com.
