2025 SCRS Global Site Solutions Summit: The Interoperability Challenges Sites Face With Clinical Trial Technology

ACT: As technology use expands in clinical trials, what are the biggest challenges sites face when adapting to new platforms across different sponsors and studies?

Douglas: It's a great question, Andy. I think what we hear the most is because sponsors can pick and choose their tech stack, we see a lot of challenges with the lack of interoperability, and the lack of integration, which are the two biggest challenges that sites face today. If you can imagine how complex their world is, they're doing anywhere from 20-200 trials, they're working on anywhere from 20-22 systems per trial, it gets complicated with having to manage the multiple passwords. It's just the different pieces and parts, and then multiple costs and double data entry is very much a challenge that we hear from our sites. At Medidata, we're really trying to look holistically. As a holistic, integrated platform, we do have tools to move data from one to the other so we can eliminate that data entry, and we encourage the industry to continue to do the same.

In a video interview with Applied Clinical Trials prior to the 2025 SCRS Global Site Solutions Summit, Robin Douglas, VP, research site engagement, Medidata, discussed the challenges clinical trial sites face with the increasing use of technology, particularly the lack of interoperability and integration among different systems. She highlighted the complexity of managing multiple trials and systems, leading to issues like double data entry and high costs. Douglas also emphasized the importance of treating site staff as partners, involving them early in the process, and maintaining a consistent feedback loop. Additionally, there is a need for the industry to reduce redundant training and leverage artificial intelligence to automate tasks, freeing up staff for patient care.