CROs and Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Research

    When we think of AI, we think of robots that act like humans or computer programs that have a
“conscience”. This concept is largely associated with science fiction, but it’s fast becoming a reality all
around us.
    These days, AI is a hot topic in multiple industries – even in clinical research. Essentially, AI, or
[5] Artificial Intelligence, is a field combining computer science with expansive datasets, which allows for
machine-enabled problem solving. AI writing and art generators are the better-known examples for the
general public, but it is also used in other industries, such as clinical research, which is shifting to more
decentralized models, as the use of wearable medical technology has risen.
   Actually, AI can support and improve the use of wearables in many ways. Besides automatically
[10] collecting and processing data inputs, it can also automate decision-making regarding device notifications.
An AI program could also generate recommended patient actions based on patterns in their health data.
    There are several obstacles when it comes to decentralized clinical trials, one of which is data collection
and processing. Since patients are off-site, they have to regularly and consciously submit their own
participation data. This can bring up issues with patient compliance and data errors. CROs and medical
[15] research institutions can leverage AI to solve these issues in several ways. They can create algorithms to
analyze patient data and create decisions that will achieve a desired outcome. Lastly, AI can optimize
and generate notifications that prompt patients to complete  electronic clinical outcome assessments
(eCOA) for a more reliable data pool.
    Moreover, AI programs can assist patients in submitting their data by analyzing the quality of the
[20] data prior to acceptance. For example, an AI program can evaluate an image to see whether it fits the
requirements of the clinical trial. It can then prompt the patient to retake the image with recommendations
regarding image quality, such as lighting or angle. This limits the amount of insufficient or substandard
submissions, thereby leading to fewer data processing errors.
    Of course, implementing new technologies comes with challenges and difficulties. This is especially
[25] true when it comes to a complex technology such as AI, which is still being developed and optimized.
But, what is important is that existing applications of artificial intelligence in clinical practices and trials
have begun changing the way research is conducted and executed. AI has been supporting, enhancing,
and transforming clinical research – all to the benefit of patients all over the world.

Adapted from: vial.com/blog. Accessed June 7 2023.

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Giordano Cipriani / Getty Images

    Discoveries of aquifers — underground earth formations that hold water — often create excitement around their ability to ease water scarcity in a region. The United States recently announced the discovery of five aquifers in Niger, one of Africa’s most water scarce countries, containing over 600 billion cubic metres of water. To put it into perspective, Egypt’s current water demand is 114 billion cubic metres of water per year.

    These are welcome announcements. Due to a changing climate and the increasing demands of a growing population, many of Africa’s surface water resources — such as dams and rivers — are facing serious risks. They’re being overused and slowly decreasing.

    Alternative water sources, like aquifers, need to be explored. They are highly prevalent across the African continent, but they’re not always going to help address water scarcity. For instance, early research findings deemed Kenya’s Turkana aquifer water unfit for use due to high salinity. It’s important to bear these challenges in mind so that expectations can be managed. It is also useful for planners and governments, as they need to think of other ways around the water scarcity problem.

(Gaathier Mahed. https://theconversation.com, 21.03.2023. Adaptado.)

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    Some of the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) researchers are calling for a pause on research into AI, claiming that safety issues must first be urgently addressed. If not, the outcomes could be devastating for humanity. Others say any pause in development would not only be impractical to enforce on a global scale, but could also stand in the way of advances that could both improve and save lives.

    The AI that is currently available already has the power to radically alter society, in new ways that we are seeing every day. So how might it progress over the coming years? Are we on the brink of an artificial intelligence-powered utopia or dystopia?

    Firstly, technology has been automating jobs since the Industrial Revolution, though never before has it happened on this scale. Everyone from truck drivers to voice over artists are at risk of being replaced by AI. A recent study found that just over 30 jobs are considered safe from automation in the near future. They range from mechanics to athletes, though they represent just a sliver of the current labour market. While new jobs will be created, there is a significant chance that the majority of the population will be left jobless. This could either lead to:

    Utopia: A new leisure class emerges, living off a universal basic income funded by taxes on robots and the companies that operate them.

    Dystopia: Mass unemployment results in social unrest, similar to the way laid off factory workers trashed the machines that replaced them. With so many jobs at risk and the potential for huge wealth inequality, some fear it could ultimately result in societal collapse.

    Secondly, artificial intelligence is already contributing to major scientific advances, dramatically accelerating the time it takes to make discoveries. It has been used to invent millions of materials that did not previously exist, find potential drug molecules 1,000 times faster than previous methods, and improve our understanding of the universe. This could either lead to:

    Utopia: Cancer and all other life-threatening diseases are cured, leading to a new age of health and prosperity. Scientists are already using AI tools to make breakthroughs in longevity medicine, which aims to end or even reverse ageing.

    Dystopia: The same AI-enabled technology could be used for malevolent purposes, creating entirely new diseases and viruses. These could be used as bioweapons, capable of devastating populations that don’t have access to cures or the tech needed to develop them.

(Anthony Cuthbertson. www.independent.co.uk, 03.05.2023. Adaptado.)

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Internet: mediakasvatus.fi/ (adapted).