Collaboration and Innovation in Clinical Trials: Reflections from the 2023 SCOPE Summit

By: Allison McDougall

After attending my first SCOPE Summit (a summit for the clinical research community), I’m filled with inspiration from the caliber of the attendees, the sessions, and the innovation brought to move clinical trials forward. I’m particularly inspired by everyone’s continued commitment to putting the patient first and the recognition that it truly does take a village to understand and serve patients in the way each person deserves.

“Go Far, Go Together”

One message that stood out to me during the summit was the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This expression perfectly captures the need for collaboration in the industry. Considering patient recruitment alone, from AI-assisted patient profiling to site selection, from pre-screening to patient contact centers, and from web development to translation, it’s clear that the industry needs to go far and go together if we’re going to get much-needed treatments to patients around the world in a timely manner.

Industry Marketplace

One of my key takeaways from the summit was the concept of an industry marketplace. This platform provides sponsors with a unified space to evaluate and procure various services, streamlining processes and reducing time-to-market by providing qualified, pre-vetted suppliers that represent various service categories. It also fosters improved communication and collaboration across all parties, ensuring that nothing is lost in emails or offline documentation. Additionally, a marketplace provides a unique opportunity for small companies to participate, gain recognition, and receive the support they may need.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the SCOPE Summit was a truly inspiring experience, filled with innovative ideas that reflected an ongoing commitment to keeping patients at the forefront of everything we pursue. From listening to key thought leaders, peers, and clients, it’s clear that an industry marketplace provides numerous benefits for clinical research and that the advancements focused on in discussions are crucial to bringing much-needed treatments to patients around the world.
Interested in exploring how a marketplace focused on clinical content and documentation could be beneficial for your organization? Let’s chat!