INC Research Holdings, a global phase I to IV CRO, together with the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging the public and patients as partners in the clinical research process, has announced the finalists for the “Inspiring Hope” Ideathon event.

In a competition that inspired nearly 70 entries, 14 ideas submitted by teams from around the world have been shortlisted for their potential to help address the critical need to increase awareness of clinical trial participation among patients, healthcare professionals and the general public. Finalists will convene Sept. 27-28 at District Hall in Boston for a crowdsolving-type event where they will further develop and ultimately present their solutions to the judging panel and the 2016 “Inspiring Hope” Award winner will be named.

“We would like to thank everyone who submitted an idea for the ‘Inspiring Hope’ Ideathon and congratulate our finalists who have submitted some truly innovative approaches to address this important need,” said Clare Grace, Ph.D., vice president, Site and Patient Access, INC Research. “We received a very strong response—much higher than expected—and the quality, creativity and diversity of ideas coming from patients and professionals across the clinical research enterprise was outstanding.”

The shortlisted ideas represent a broad spectrum of thinking ranging from an app that matches researchers with patients to a dramatization featuring a pop-up retail pharmacy to a concept that includes working with Google to include a "doodle" for various days of the year honoring female and minority populations who have participated in clinical trials. Another idea focuses on establishing a mobile unit that provides health screening, education and access to clinical trials in rural and inner city areas.

Ken Getz, founder and board chair, CISCRP, noted, “The submissions that were selected as finalists are the ideas that the judges believe hold the most promise in the near-term for spotlighting clinical trials awareness and supporting our goal to develop an engaged community that educates and advocates for clinical research. We look forward to collaborating further with the finalists on their ideas during the event later this month, and to selecting and moving this year’s winning idea into an implementable solution.”

2016 “Inspiring Hope” Ideathon Finalists

• Sarah Berk and Lauren McLaughlin, associate directors, Research Partnerships, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, New York
• Deena Bernstein, VP, Site Services, QCare, Quintiles, Durham, North Carolina
• Susannah Buzard, associate manager of Editorial Panels and Community Outreach, Cynthia Korisky, project manager, and Matt Scanlon, project manager, CISCRP, Boston, Massachusetts
• Zac Carr, director of Strategy & Business Operations, Clincierge, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Daniella Frisoli, SSU Academy—Study Start Up & Regulatory Specialist I, INC Research, Camberley, U.K.
• Regina Greer-Smith, president and chief engagement officer, Healthcare Research Associates, Hazel Press, Illinois
• Kate Wheeler, group account director, Langland, Windsor, UK
• Aurelie MacDonald, managing director, BioMark Consulting, San Francisco, California
• William Raasch, founder and CEO, WeHealth Co, Venice, California
• Angela Radcliffe, executive vice president, FCBVIO, A Hudson Global Company, New York
• Susan Sikora, principal and founder, CONDUIT Health Communications, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
• Rebecca Simpson, marketing and media specialist, Encore Research Group, Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research, Jacksonville, Florida
• Ernest Suh, medical professional, Kaiser Permanente, Northridge, California
• Christine Zahren, director, Clinical Trials Connect, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia and Fiona Cameron, marketing director, Acme Strategic, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia        

All entries received for the “Inspiring Hope” Ideathon were reviewed by a panel of judges representing a diverse community of stakeholders who evaluated the ideas based on innovation, feasibility of implementation, sustainability and potential for impact in raising awareness of clinical trials, particularly among minority and vulnerable populations in a range of diseases and medical conditions. In addition, entrants were asked to address four problem statements involving clinical research’s role in society, the issue of ongoing participation in clinical studies, more active engagement with patients seeking alternative health care options, and the need to create higher levels of recognition and appreciation for clinical trial volunteers.

Ibraheem Mahmood, CEO of DrugDev, platinum sponsor of the “Inspiring Hope” Ideathon, commented, “Clinical trials present patients and healthcare providers with unique opportunities to treat disease and improve quality of life but 95% of the population does not participate due to lack of awareness and misconceptions. We can't let this go on. The Ideathon is a great way to bring new contributors into the clinical trial process and to explore and develop creative ideas through collaboration. It is well-aligned with the DrugDev company mission of helping researchers and patients do more trials."

Sponsors for the 2016 “Inspiring Hope” Ideathon include DrugDev, EMD Serono, WIRB Copernicus Group, Greenphire, ePatientFinder, Medidata and qd Solutions along with association partners the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) and the Greater Gift Initiative (GGI). Media partners for the event include CenterWatch and PharmaVOICE.