Archives: Agenda

Optimising Clinical Trial Feasibility: From Site Selection to Study Design

  • Assessing site capabilities, patient populations, and operational resources to ensure realistic trial execution.
  • Using data-driven approaches and analytics to predict enrollment timelines and potential bottlenecks.
  • Identifying and mitigating risks early to improve study efficiency and reduce delays.
  • Incorporating patient insights and stakeholder feedback to design feasible, patient-friendly protocols.

SPOTLIGHT – Innovation in Rare Disease

  • Analysis of Real World (Audit) Data in driving drug discovery
  • Use of RWD in driving drug discovery in rare diseases
  • Leveraging therapeutics for rare disease to larger, multiple global applications

Strength in Collaboration: How Ireland’s Unified Clinical Trial Ecosystem Is Driving Growth and Cross-Border Innovation

  • A Unified National Approach: How Ireland avoids siloed working across research sites, hospitals, regulators and sponsors, and what lessons can be learned from this collaborative ecosystem.
  • Political Momentum & National Structures: Examination of Ireland’s evolving political landscape, including the formation of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group and the report/recommendations shaping future strategy.
  • Building Attractiveness for Global Sponsors: The concrete steps Ireland is taking, from advisory committees to harmonised processes to make the country more competitive and appealing for commercial and academic clinical trials.
  • Cross-Border Opportunities & UK Alignment: How Ireland and Britain can work together post-Brexit, including expanding trial activity into Northern Ireland and creating a smoother, collaborative pathway across both jurisdictions. We discussed a session around

PATIENT SPOTLIGHT Upstream Recruitment: Why Representation Is Decided Long Before Consent

Despite increased focus on diversity in clinical trials, under-representation of marginalised communities persists. Recruitment is often viewed as a downstream operational task focused on screening and enrolment.

This session introduces the concept of upstream recruitment the social, structural and relational factors that determine whether individuals ever encounter clinical research. Drawing on lived experience and a health equity lens, the discussion explores how trust in healthcare systems, access to trial sites, language, historic harm and time or financial burden shape participation.

The session will equip attendees with practical insight into how trust, access and structural barriers influence participation and what this means for designing more inclusive clinical trials.

Applying AI Tools Effectively in Clinical Trials

  • Leveraging AI tools to optimize patient recruitment, site selection, and trial feasibility.
  • Using AI for real-time data monitoring, quality checks, and endpoint analysis.
  • Integrating AI solutions seamlessly into trial workflows to support operational efficiency.
  • Ensuring regulatory compliance, validation, and transparency when deploying AI in active studies.