Oncology trials involve a lot of data and can be very complex. For example, in a Phase III study, about 10,000 data points are collected for each patient. This number grows when genomic and digital health data are added. Handling this large amount of data causes several problems:
These problems make it important for hospitals, research centers, and sponsors to find better methods to manage trials without losing data accuracy or patient safety.
One helpful technology in oncology trials combines electronic health records (EHR) with electronic data capture (EDC) systems. This uses eSource technology to transfer patient data automatically from medical records to trial databases. This removes the need to enter the same data twice.
Flatiron Health worked with the University of Colorado Cancer Center and UCHealth to link EHR data with EDC systems. Their tool, Clinical Pipe™, connects these systems and is used at more than 85 medical centers and cancer sites across over 300 locations in the U.S.
With this connection:
Dr. Christopher Lieu, Associate Director of Clinical Research at CU Cancer Center, said this technology supports good care while managing data well. Emily Akin from Flatiron Health added that Clinical Pipe™ lessens the workload on trial teams and makes trials easier to run.
Medical administrators and IT managers must update their IT systems to support EHR-EDC integration. Important steps include:
These changes help use resources better, lower errors, shorten trial times, and may reduce costs.
Oncology trials include many repeated tasks like checking patient eligibility, collecting data, fixing errors, and verifying documents. Research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center shows these tasks take thousands of staff hours. For example, in a trial with 10 patients, manual data entry alone can take around 5,000 hours.
Using eSource technology automates many tasks:
Clinical Research Coordinator Gynet Santiago said that before, searching for patient data took a lot of time and was hard. Automation lets her focus more on patients, making trials better and faster.
Technology use is growing in US oncology research. Companies like Medidata and Advarra offer digital platforms that improve data sharing, quality control, and efficiency. Medidata supports over 30,000 trials with 9 million volunteers, showing the wide use of technology in research.
Advarra helps oncology trials with:
These tools help reduce delays, improve following rules, and keep patients safe during research.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are becoming important in clinical research. AI programs and machine learning can analyze data faster and better than people, helping researchers make quick decisions and catch problems early.
Flatiron Health uses AI and machine learning to link systems and improve cancer care decisions with real-world data.
This technology progress is important in places like Colorado and nearby states served by groups like University of Colorado Cancer Center and UCHealth, where clinical trials are part of cancer care.
Medical leaders face many challenges when adding advanced technology to oncology research. Some important points are:
By handling these areas, organizations can lower trial costs, reduce delays, and improve patient experiences while supporting cancer research.
The University of Colorado Cancer Center and Flatiron Health have announced a collaboration to implement Flatiron Clinical Pipe™, which aims to improve the efficiency of clinical trials by integrating electronic health record (EHR) data directly into electronic data capture (EDC) systems.
Flatiron Clinical Pipe™ is a technology that connects electronic health records with electronic data capture systems, enabling direct transfer of clinical trial data to improve study efficiencies and reduce administrative burdens on clinical trial site teams.
The integration of Flatiron Clinical Pipe™ enables researchers to avoid duplicative, error-prone data entry, thereby improving access and efficiency of clinical studies, which allows for conducting more trials and accelerating evidence generation.
Key benefits include reduced site burden, streamlined data management, accelerated study timelines, and allowing healthcare providers to focus more on patient interaction instead of administrative tasks.
Research has shown that teams using Flatiron Clinical Pipe™ can transfer 11,342 individual data points in an average time of just 37 seconds for launching, completing, and submitting case report forms.
UCHealth serves as the clinical care partner in the collaboration, leveraging its extensive network and facilities to facilitate clinical trials and improve patient care outcomes through innovative technology.
The University of Colorado Cancer Center is Colorado’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on advancing cancer treatment and patient care through innovative research.
The key stakeholders include Flatiron Health, the University of Colorado Cancer Center, UCHealth, clinicians, researchers, and patients within the oncology ecosystem.
Research published in ESMO Real-World Data and Digital Oncology showcases the efficiency of Flatiron Clinical Pipe™, demonstrating its capability to significantly reduce the time spent on administrative tasks in clinical trials.
Flatiron Health utilizes machine learning, artificial intelligence, and real-world evidence to transform oncology clinical research and improve patient care by connecting data and streamlining processes.
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