Recent Posts by Katherine Vandebelt

The pandemic has created a lot of disruption in clinical trials, but not all of it has been negative. From accelerating the adoption of decentralized trials and speeding up the delivery of vaccines, to telemedicine and mHealth playing bigger roles in patients’ lives, opportunities have emerged to help us rediscover and recalibrate the way we perform clinical research. Many believe we can’t go back to the old way of doing things – so who’s leading the charge? In this episode,...

This year has been a tough one for many, so for our last podcast of 2020, we wanted to end on a positive note by shining a light on two organizations (and their furry friends) who are doing amazing things for those in need. There’s a reason that you may have seen a dog roaming the halls of your local hospital. Research shows that animals can improve the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of their human companions. Humans and animals have a powerful bond, one that...

Every year, the brightest minds in pharmaceuticals and clinical innovation put on their best black-tie attire for the life science industry’s biggest event – the Prix Galien. While this year may have attendees donning their ballgowns and tuxes virtually, this is still going to be one of the most important years for the Prix Galien Awards, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, also known as the “Golden Jubilee.” In episode nine of The Latest Dose, our host Kathy Vandebelt...

The pandemic has created disruptions across every aspect of daily life, with clinical trials being no exception. But instead of impeding clinical research, the pandemic has created opportunities to refresh the way clinical trials are performed and has helped us discover how we can make patients’ lives easier by using new approaches and innovation. So, what capabilities and technologies do site staff and patients need for decentralized clinical trials? In episode eight of The...

We’ve talked a lot about clinical research, clinical innovation, and patient centricity so far in The Latest Dose podcast. One thing we haven’t touched on yet is safety – a critical part of the clinical trial process and post-marketing management of a drug or device. So, what is drug safety and why is it important? Drug safety, also known as pharmacovigilance, is the pharmacological science surrounding the collection, detection, assessment, monitoring, and prevention of...

The global pandemic has forever changed how patients, sites staff, sponsors, CROs and vendors engage in clinical research. With hundreds to thousands of trials working towards treatments and preventions for the virus, it’s necessary that trials evolve to fit into our world’s new limitations. These changes can be positive for the industry, but everything rests on the ability to adapt. So, how should we think about our “new normal?” In episode six of The Latest Dose, our host...

Patients in a clinical trial have a lot to deal with – not only are the facing the physical and mental drain of a trial, but there’s also the emotional aspect. Many who participate in clinical trials are doing so because they need a treatment that isn’t available yet and are hopeful the trial could potentially yield one. If you’ve ever known someone who has been in a trial, the whole process is an anxiety-filled duration of time that can lead to happiness, heartbreak, or even...

Hundreds of clinical trials are taking place every day, testing everything from vaccines and cancer treatments, to new medical devices and therapies. Each one of them has its own unique endpoints – the markers that will tell researchers if a new drug or device works – and its own set of complex protocols. But even though every trial is different, they all have one thing in common: patients. Patients who are willing to participate in clinical trials are essential – after all,...

Everyone has been impacted by clinical research in some way or another, even if you don’t realize it. Maybe you’ve had a loved one participate in a clinical trial because of a life-threatening illness. Or, you or someone close to you might take medication to treat a potentially life-long disease, like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. Even more simply – if you’ve ever taken aspirin or ibuprofen, you’ve been touched by clinical research. The reason that treatments and cures...