Digital twins are increasingly being used in clinical trials to ease the conduct of these trials.
There are many benefits to using digital twins, including improved trial design, increased patient recruitment and retention, and more efficient data collection and analysis. However, there are also risks associated with using digital twins in clinical trials, and regulatory oversight is needed to ensure that these risks are adequately managed.
What are digital twins
A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical object or system that can be used for various purposes, including monitoring and managing the performance of the physical object or system. The term “digital twin” was first coined by Dr. Michael Grieves of the University of Michigan in 2002.
Digital twins are created by combining data from sensors and other sources with computer models to create a virtual model of an entity. This virtual model is then used to simulate various scenarios, test new ideas or designs, make predictions, or otherwise improve understanding of the entity being represented.
The use of digital twins is not limited to any particular industry or application, but has been adopted in many different fields such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, energy, and more.
Examples of digital twins
Some examples of digital twins include:
- A jet engine manufacturer uses sensors to collect data on temperature, pressure, vibration, and other factors from jet engines in service. This data is then used to create a virtual model of the engine which can be used to test new designs and predict how the physical engines will perform over time.
- A hospital uses patient data collected from electronic health records (EHRs), wearable devices, and other sources to create a digital twin of each patient. This information can be used by doctors and nurses to better understand each patient’s individual needs and provide more personalized care.
- An automotive company uses data collected from sensors on vehicles in use to create a virtual model of the car’s components. This information can be used to design new products or make predictions about how the physical cars will perform over time.
How can digital twins be used in clinical trials
Digital twins can offer many benefits for clinical trials, including reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and improving patient safety.
- Cost reduction: One of the main benefits of using digital twins is the potential to reduce the cost of clinical trials. By using digital models of patients instead of physical ones, sponsors can avoid the costs associated with recruiting and paying for patients to participate in a trial. In addition, by collecting data electronically from digital twins, sponsors can avoid the cost of paper records and manual data entry.
- Increased efficiency: Digital twins can also increase the efficiency of clinical trials. By allowing sponsors to test multiple trial scenarios on a computer model before conducting a physical trial, they can avoid wasting time and resources on trials that are likely to fail. In addition, by automating data collection and analysis, digital twins can help reduce the length of clinical trials.
- Improved patient safety: Another benefit of using digital twins is that they can improve patient safety. By testing new treatments on computer models before administering them to patients, sponsors can reduce the risk of serious side effects or adverse events. In addition, by monitoring digital twins during a trial, sponsors can quickly identify any safety concerns and take action to mitigate them.
Photo How can digital twins ease the conduct of clinical trials
Digital twins can be used in clinical trial design to streamline the process and reduce the overall costs. For example, a digital twin can be used to create a virtual model of a proposed clinical trial site. This would allow for the assessment of the suitability of the site without the need for costly and time-consuming site visits.
In addition, digital twins can be used to create virtual models of patients, which can then be used to test potential treatments prior to starting a clinical trial. This would allow for early identification of potential issues with a treatment and could save both time and money.
Use of digital twins in patient recruitment and retention
Digital twins can also be used in patient recruitment and retention. For example, if a patient is reluctant to participate in a clinical trial due to geographical location or time commitment, a digital twin could be used to provide them with an immersive experience of what the trial would entail.
This could help to increase patient engagement and compliance with the trial protocol. In addition, digital twins could be used post-trial to monitor patients for long-term effects of treatments received during the trial.
Use of digital twins in data collection and analysis
Digital twins can also be used in data collection and analysis. For example, if patients are unable or unwilling to attend follow-up appointments, their digital twin could be used instead to collect data on their health status.
This would allow for more accurate data collection as well as reducing the burden on patients. In addition, digital twins can be used to analyse large volumes of data more quickly and efficiently than traditional methods, such as manual review by clinicians. This could help to identify trends and improve the overall quality of data collected during clinical trials.
What regulatory considerations are needed for digital twins in clinical trials.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidance on the use of digital health technologies in clinical trials. This guidance outlines the Agency’s expectations for the use of these technologies, including the need for data privacy and security considerations.
The FDA recommends that sponsors of clinical trials consider the use of digital health technologies to collect data about trial participants, facilitate communication between trial sites and patients, and improve patient engagement. However, sponsors should also be aware of the potential risks associated with these technologies, including data security and privacy concerns.
When using digital health technologies in clinical trials, sponsors should ensure that these technologies are validated and that adequate safeguards are in place to protect patient data. In addition, sponsors should develop a plan for managing data collected by these technologies, including how this data will be stored, accessed, and shared.
EMA guidance on the use of digital tools in clinical trials
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued guidance on the use of digital tools in clinical trials. This guidance provides information on the types of digital tools that can be used in clinical trials, as well as the benefits and risks associated with their use.
EMA recommends that sponsors of clinical trials consider the use of digital tools to collect data about trial participants, facilitate communication between trial sites and patients, and improve patient engagement. However, sponsors should also be aware of the potential risks associated with these tools, including data security and privacy concerns.
When using digital tools in clinical trials, Sponsors should ensure that these tools are validated and that adequate safeguards are in place to protect patient data. In addition, Sponsors should develop a plan for managing data collected by these tools, including how this data will be stored accessed ,and shared
Data privacy and security considerations
Data privacy and security are critical considerations when using any type of health technology in a clinical trial setting. All personal information collected through the use of these technologies must be protected from unauthorized access or disclosure . In addition ,sponsors must take steps to ensure that any third-party service providers who have access to trial participant information comply with applicable privacy laws .
Conclusion
Digital twins have the potential to ease the conduct of clinical trials by assisting with trial design, patient recruitment and retention, and data collection and analysis. However, there are regulatory considerations that need to be taken into account when using digital twins in clinical trials, such as data privacy and security.
Digital twins hold great promise in speeding up the design and conduct of clinical trials, solving some of the thorniest problems currently plaguing the industry. However, there are also concerns that must be closely monitored, including data security and privacy issues, as well as the potential for digital twins to function as diagnostic tools that would be difficult to study in a controlled clinical trial environment.
And not all researchers are convinced that digital twins will lead to better clinical trials in the long run, so we’ll have to wait and see how this all plays out in the coming years.
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