Novel methods and technologies for 21st-century clinical trials: a review.
OBJECTIVE
New technologies are rapidly reshaping health care. However, their effect on drug development to date generally has been limited.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate disease modeling and simulation, alternative study design, novel objective measures, virtual research visits, and enhanced participant engagement and to examine their potential effects as methods and tools on clinical trials.


METHODS
We conducted a systematic search of relevant terms on PubMed (disease modeling and clinical trials; adaptive design, clinical trials, and neurology; Internet, clinical trials, and neurology; and telemedicine, clinical trials, and neurology), references of previous publications, and our files. The search encompassed articles published from January 1, 2000, through November 30, 2014, and produced 7976 articles, of which 22 were determined to be relevant and are included in this review.


RESULTS
Few of these new methods and technologies have been applied to neurology clinical trials. Clinical outcomes, including cognitive and stroke outcomes, increasingly are captured remotely. Other therapeutic areas have successfully implemented many of these tools and technologies, including web-enabled clinical trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased use of new tools and approaches in future clinical trials can enhance the design, improve the assessment, and engage participants in the evaluation of novel therapies for neurologic disorders.
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York2Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
E Ray
ER
Dorsey
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York2Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
Charles
C
Venuto
currently a medical student at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
Vinayak
V
Venkataraman
Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
Denzil A
DA
Harris
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York2Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York4Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Roche.
Karl
K
Kieburtz
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009462:Neurology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D012107:Research Design / Q000639:trends*