Resources

Dr. David Karp, Chief of the Division of Rheumatic Diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center, leads research efforts in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a rare and complex autoimmune condition that disproportionately affects women of color.

Real-world data (RWD), artificial intelligence (AI), and patient-centric trial design lead pharma priorities in 2025, but data compatibility, regulatory hurdles, and security concerns threaten to stall momentum.

Clinical trials often falter at the final stretch—when it’s time to execute. It’s here that well-intentioned protocols meet real-world complexity, where timelines can slip, costs may surge, and outcomes could fall short of expectations.

This TriNetX exclusive survey report reveals how 150 senior pharmaceutical and biotech executives are leveraging artificial intelligence, real-world data (RWD), and diversity in clinical trials to drive innovation—while navigating persistent challenges.

In the high-stakes world of clinical research, innovation doesn’t just happen in the lab; it must cross the clinical trial finish line of regulatory submission. Yet for many sponsors, sites, and researchers, patient recruitment—or the “last mile”—remains a costly bottleneck where recruitment can lag, site enrollment can underperform, and promising treatments never receive approval.

The “last mile” of clinical research represents the crucial phase where protocols are put into action, and patient engagement becomes a reality. It’s about transforming well-laid plans into meaningful outcomes by efficiently connecting researchers, sites, and participants.

The path to groundbreaking discoveries in clinical research starts with a single, vital element: trusted data.

Fresh from the dynamic and idea-rich environment of ISPOR 2025, the premier global conference on health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), one message emerged loud and clear: innovation is rapidly reshaping the HEOR landscape, yet foundational challenges remain that require renewed attention and action. 

Clinical trials are being reinvented by real-world data (RWD). In 2025, data-driven strategies won’t just complement trial design—they’ll define it. From protocol optimization to accelerated site identification, data is the new compass guiding clinical innovation

The result? Higher costs, longer timelines, and compromised outcomes. The need to solve these critical challenges has never been more urgent.

With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), his recent speech to agency staff marked the beginning of what could be a seismic shift in U.S. healthcare policy. Among his key initiatives: launching investigations into whether antidepressants and the childhood vaccine schedule are contributing to chronic diseases. 

Combining disparate data sources to inform clinical trial site selection has long been a complex challenge. Inconsistent site naming, differences in the definition of a site, and a lack of potential patient counts, among other obstacles, have made it difficult for sponsors to pinpoint optimal sites.