By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
April 2025
The last global crisis changed clinical trials forever. When COVID-19 closed physical sites and restricted movement, the industry had no choice but to evolve. Decentralised clinical trials (DCTs)—once an emerging trend—became a necessity.
The shift wasn’t seamless or universal. Smaller firms struggled with infrastructure, and many trials were paused altogether. But the pandemic did something vital: it pushed digital transformation from the edges of clinical research to its centre.
Now, as new pressures—like tariffs, geopolitical instability, and inflation—challenge the life sciences sector again, I believe we’re better placed to respond. Not just because we’ve modernised since 2020, but because we now have the tools to go further.
In particular, AI and blockchain are emerging as foundational technologies for building operational resilience. They won’t solve every problem, but they offer very real opportunities to improve trial speed, efficiency, and adaptability—at a time when margins are tighter than ever.
By mid-2020, over 70% of sponsors had adopted remote or decentralised models in some form, according to McKinsey. eConsent, telehealth, and wearable-based data capture all surged in use.
This transition didn’t eliminate every operational risk—but it did help companies reduce dependency on physical sites and logistics-heavy trial models. DCTs also improved recruitment and retention by making participation more accessible—something the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) highlighted in 2023.
Now, with tariffs raising the cost of imports—from trial devices to lab kits—we’re already in a better place. A decentralised model reduces the need for costly site infrastructure, long-distance shipping, and physical documentation. That alone offers a cushion against trade disruptions.
But to really absorb volatility and stay competitive, the next step is intelligence and transparency.
One of the most promising shifts in trial operations is the use of AI to reduce time and improve data quality.
AI-powered platforms are already automating image analysis, ECG interpretation, and endpoint adjudication—especially in complex therapeutic areas. Companies like Tempus and DeepLens have demonstrated that automation can reduce analysis timelines by 20–40%, depending on trial design.
We’re also seeing early but promising applications of predictive analytics: tools that flag potential trial delays, recruitment drop-offs, or compliance risks in real time. This kind of foresight helps teams act early—minimising delays that might otherwise be exacerbated by increased costs elsewhere in the trial.
That matters because the impact of tariffs isn't just about supply chain disruption—it’s also about efficiency. When trial delivery costs go up, sponsors need to find savings elsewhere. AI enables that.
Supply chain disruption remains one of the most direct ways tariffs impact clinical research. When imported trial materials—such as APIs, devices, or packaging—become delayed or expensive, sponsors are forced into reactive mode.
Blockchain offers a solution with real potential: a way to create a verifiable, real-time ledger of where materials are, how they’ve moved, and whether compliance standards have been met.
Projects like MediLedger and Pfizer’s 2023 blockchain pilot for drug traceability show how the technology is beginning to reshape pharma supply chains. While it’s not yet widely adopted in clinical operations, the direction of travel is clear.
With blockchain, sponsors could:
This isn’t fully realised yet—but it’s more than a theoretical benefit. As integration improves, blockchain could become the backbone of transparent, responsive global trials.
The digital transformation forced by COVID gave us a foundation. Now we need to build intelligence and adaptability into that foundation to future-proof clinical trials.
Here’s where I believe we should direct our focus:
The goal isn’t just digitisation. It’s creating a digital infrastructure that’s adaptive by design.
COVID forced us to digitise. Tariffs and future global shocks will force us to optimise. And this time, we have the tools.
AI and blockchain aren’t silver bullets—but they’re powerful enablers. They offer clarity, speed, and confidence in a sector where timelines are tight and margins are under pressure.
As a founder working across healthtech, pharma, and clinical innovation, I see a clear opportunity: to shift from reacting to disruption to designing for resilience.
We’ve already built the base. Now let’s build the intelligence on top of it.
We create human-centered solutions that drive positive outcomes for users and organisations. Let’s collaborate.
See our work
