Winner
A Phase 1 Investigator Meeting: Saving a Place for Patients
by Roche & Langland
Summary of work
Delays to clinical trials are common and expensive, accounting for as much as £7m/day in lost revenue. What’s more, every day a drug is held up at the clinical research stage lengthens the wait for those needing new treatments and innovations in care. Slow enrolment and high dropout rates are key contributors, and the industry has been seeking effective recruitment and retention solutions for years.
Staff at clinical research sites have a vital role to play in recruitment and retention, but the Investigator Meetings (IMs) that take place during start-up tend to focus on the science, data and procedures, rather than how best to communicate the trial to patients, and support them through consent and participation. So when Roche asked us to support an IM for their BP44551 study in moderate-to-severe asthma, we saw an opportunity to put the patient experience at the centre.
‘Save a Place’, our unifying idea for the meeting, made people living with moderate to severe asthma the focus for the day, and activities framed around Story, Reflection and Play resulted in attendees scoring nine-plus out of ten for their confidence in identifying potential participants, and being able to accurately convey benefits and risks.
Judges’ comments
Roche and Langland’s entry really stood out for the judges, providing a clear background on the unmet need and strong objectives. The strategy was novel and the visual metaphor of the empty chair was extremely impactful. How they used the story telling was brilliant and it was a really important topic to improve diversity in clinical trials. They put patients at the heart of the whole project, which was fantastic.
