Blog
Webinar: Bridging the digital divide for improved patient diversity
Over the last few years, the topics of diversity and decentralization have become increasingly important in the world of clinical trials. But traditionally it’s been thought that the two don’t go hand in hand.
However, if properly planned, decentralized approaches have the potential to open rather than close doors when it comes to clinical trial diversity.
The Reuters Events webinar ‘Bridging the digital divide for improved patient diversity’ chaired by Craig Lipset saw four experts discuss the topic of decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) and diversity:
- Dr Mert Aral, Huma’s Chief Medical Officer (R&D)
- Jasna Tholens, Global Director Clinical Trial Management at Johnson & Johnson
- Lashell Robinson, Director, Diversity & Inclusion in Clinical Trials at Takeda Pharmaceuticals
- Michael Zaiac, Head of Medical Affairs at Novartis
Watch the full webinar on demand
So what did we learn from the expert panel? Here we share our highlights from the discussion.
Start with the patient
In her opening remarks, Takeda’s Lashell Robinson highlighted the need to understand the patient before designing DCTs to ensure you don’t set up a trial that creates a digital divide from the outset. She said that ‘diversity means a lot of different things depending on the audience’ and those designing trials need to look at the disease epidemiology and who the patient is, for example, their age and any comorbidities they have, in order to understand what diversity looks like for each trial.
Huma’s Dr Mert Aral reinforced these points when commenting on the use of AI-driven inputs in DCTs. He added that participants need to be looked at as collaborators, offering their unique insights into the feasibility of measurements and protocols to ensure trial success.
“Understanding the perspective of the patient with regards to their condition, the disease burden, how much they’re willing to do, how much they’re willing to engage with that specific technology, how often we should be collecting that certain data point and the usability of the sensors and wearables. Understanding that from the get-go is absolutely essential, and considering these factors early on will lead to more success.”
Take steps to prevent digital exclusion
Whilst technology has the power to reduce health inequalities without careful consideration it can also widen them. Dr Mert Aral discussed Huma’s continued focus on ensuring ease of use and accessibility when deploying solutions for digital-first care and research.
“Creating multiple means to enable enrollment and participation from all backgrounds and geographies to broaden access is key. That means having a web version interface for example, for those who do not own a smartphone, or the ability to activate call centre support dashboards for research teams, where participants can actually call in and submit data.”
He also spoke about how Huma had built functionalities in its platform to ensure those with disabilities that may prevent them from using any technology still had an opportunity to participate in DCTs. “We actually created a proxy functionality whereby a carer or family member can become a proxy for that individual and still sign up for the DCT and submit data on behalf of the participant.”
Embed diversity into your practices
The panel discussed the need to move away from seeing diversity as an initiative, or something we only focus on in relation to awareness days or events and begin to realise its good for business.
Novartis’s Michael Zaiac suggested that companies should start to build clear targets for diversity as they do for any other business objectives. He said: “If we tackle a business problem we give numbers to it, yet with diversity and inclusion we have awareness days and months, which are great, but we never measure and we never have clear targets of what we want.”
According to Johnson & Johnson’s Jasna Tholens, one way for companies to begin to tackle diversification in clinical trials is to break down the process into simpler, smaller steps and create a clear roadmap. She also highlighted the role of diversity in every phase of drug development, from preclinical development to the mature life cycle of the product, and the growing need to analyse the real-world evidence collection to understand which patient populations really benefit from the product.
Digital tools must still build trust
A vital stage for all clinical trials is the consent process. It offers patients an opportunity to address myths and ask questions about the trial and build rapport and trust with the clinical team. Lashell Robinson discussed the importance of ensuring decentralized clinical trials also provide the same opportunities through eConsent.
She said: “One tool that I would really like to see more broadly used in a consistent manner is eConsent. Because that is the critical moment where the patient is either able to build that rapport with whoever is consenting them, or it completely removes them from the clinical trial process. When I think about building trust, that consent piece is really critical.”
When discussing how to make sure an eConsent strategy supports diversity and inclusion, she emphasised the value of using data to drive these decisions. “When we're doing site selection, and we're thinking about where it actually fits our sites, we can use data to figure out where we actually increase that accessibility. But we can also take that feasibility process to really gauge a site’s capabilities and fill in those gaps around eConsent.”
Is decentralization the solution for clinical trial diversity?
Whilst the panel agreed that the decentralization of clinical trials alone was not the solution for diversity, Novartis’s Michael Zaiac suggested that decentralized clinical trials offer a way to address current inequity in access to clinical trial sites and people having the time to participate.
On decentralized clinical trials, he said: “It's one of the tools to address the issues of inequity we are having now. It's not the remedy for everything but I think it's a step in the right direction. And paired with other measures of site diversity, diversity of the site staff, good education etc. it’s the right way forward.”
Find out more about Huma’s award-winning technology to support decentralized and hybrid clinical trials.
2022: progress and partnership
As 2022 comes to a close, we reflect on the progress we’ve made over the last 12 months in driving a digital-first approach to care and research, enabling people to live longer, fuller lives.
4 Reasons to meet Huma at OCT Europe '23 | 3-4 May, Barcelona
Discover how a digital-first approach to research can drive operational efficiency, accelerate project timelines, and seamlessly improve participant experience.
6 ways remote patient monitoring can help drive MedTech revenue
Remote patient monitoring enables providers to harness the power of real-world data and real-world evidence to increase revenue. Find out how in our latest blog.
AI detects patients at highest risk of COVID-19 mortality
Peer-reviewed research published in Nature Scientific Reports
Atos and Huma support Symbiosis Hospital to expand care capacity
Huma’s ‘hospital at home’ technology will expand care capacity in Pune, India by up to 60%
Bayer Expands Partnership with Huma: Digital Heart Risk Assessment Tool Expands to Saudi Arabia
Bayer Partners with Huma on Bayer Aspirin Heart Risk Assessment Tool
We’ve partnered with Bayer, a leading global life sciences company, have partnered to develop the Bayer Aspirin Heart Risk Assessment, an online tool that quickly assesses an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Bayer Partners with Huma on Bayer Aspirin Heart Risk Assessment Tool
Breaking the bias in cardiovascular disease
How digital-first care and research can address the gender bias in cardiovascular disease
Breathe Easier: The Power of Digital Health in Asthma Care and Research
Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects over 300 million people globally. Without treatment, it can lead to life-threatening attacks. Read more to explore how digital health technologies can help patients manage their symptoms effectively.
Come and meet us at DMEA, Berlin!
Looking to attend Europe's top Digital Health event? Join Huma at DMEA from 25-27 April 2023 in Berlin. Don't miss the chance to meet with us and learn about the latest in healthcare technology. Register now!
Decentralized trial sees increased adherence to heart medication
A study testing if a cardiac trial could be run entirely remotely found rapid recruitment, high engagement and that patients with low baseline increased their medication adherence from 85% to 96%.
Demystifying SaMD Regulation
Many of our customers come to us with questions and even misconceptions about SaMD regulation. Read this article and understand some common myths surrounding SaMDs and how Huma is pioneering a new path forward for companies entering this emerging environment.
Digital health technology offers a way out of the annual winter NHS crisis
As we head towards yet another ‘worst winter on record’, Dr Mert Aral explains how digital health technology can solve the annual NHS crisis.
Digital support against Covid-19 in Germany
Press release: German states focus on patient care via app
Do’s and Don’ts of setting up virtual wards
When it comes to virtual wards, the opportunities for the health sector are immense, but how do you know where to start? We asked industry experts to join us on a panel to discuss some of the do's and don'ts for setting up virtual wards.
Driving Patient Safety with Digital Technology
Patient safety may be paramount across healthcare, but we are a long way from ‘first, do no harm’. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that medication errors cause US$ 42 billion of global total health expenditure worldwide, 50% of the overall preventable harm in medical care.
Eczacıbaşı Evital and Huma collaborate in digital health
Exploring the future of De-centralized and Hybrid Trials: Huma at SCOPE 2023
SCOPE 2023 in Orlando was a summit for clinical ops executives to learn about DCTs. Huma's DCT team shared insights on digital-driven DCTs. Attendees discussed innovative solutions, increasing uptake and appetite for DCTs, and Huma's patient-centric solution.
FT 1000: Huma named Europe's fastest growing healthcare company
Press release: Huma listed in the Top 25 for all sectors
Fierce biotech webinar
Taking the "clinic" out of clinical trials and healthcare: Bridging research and care with digital tools
Fixing the foundations: building a solid evidence base for digital health
Our Global Clinical Directors Arrash Yassaee and Peter Kirpalani-Collins explain the importance of clinical rigour and evidence generation in digital health and how we’re doing things differently here at Huma.
Growth for good: how Huma is scaling its business to improve patients’ lives
A strong start to 2023: Huma wins Tech Tour Growth50’s Health Award and is named the Financial Times’ fastest growing healthcare company in Europe
HSJ Value Awards 2021
Huma has been shortlisted as a finalist for the HSJ Value Awards 2021.
Health for All: Why Planetary Health is Key to Achieving Global Wellness
To mark its 75th anniversary, the World Health Organisation has made Health for All the focus for this year. This Earth Day, we are looking at how planetary health is an essential component of reaching that goal.
How Digital Health can drive transformation in MedTech
Download our 21-page guide, and discover how senior executives from Huma, Abbott, Smith & Nephew and AliveCor use technology and real-world evidence (RWE) to improve patient outcomes in neurology, cardiology and orthopaedic surgery.
How Huma technology can reduce burnout on virtual wards
Expectations are high when you hold people’s lives in your hands, so it is little wonder that physicians report emotional exhaustion and feeling overextended, plus a feeling of depersonalization.
How Virtual Ward Technology Offers Relief to An Overburdened NHS
Our 21 page guide to Virtual Wards, brings together Huma’s 10 years of experience in implementing remote patient monitoring and virtual wards in the NHS
How can digital solutions empower and support heart failure patients?
We launched a 12-week remote patient monitoring pilot with Cwm Taf and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Boards
How decentralized and hybrid trials can drive efficiencies beyond the pandemic
Huma’s Nico O'Kuinghttons discusses how we can drive more efficient decentralized and hybrid clinical trials post-pandemic
How digital-first care is improving health equity
We are at a pivotal time for the healthcare industry. At Huma, we believe that everyone should have an opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Read more about why we believe that digital-first care can promote health equity.
How our Huma app drives engagement in population health research
In a recent study, we teamed up with researchers from the University of Cambridge in a fully remote sub-study of the Fenland longitudinal cohort. Discover what we learned in this blog.
How our digital CVD risk model can help reduce avoidable deaths
Our research was published in European Heart Journal Digital Health (EHJ-DH)
How to accelerate digital adoption across the UK healthcare system
We have only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to digital health. There is so much more that can be achieved with the adoption of remote patient monitoring - but how can we accelerate it?
How to design virtual wards: 5 tips to set you up for success
Our clinical deployment lead, Dr Terry Deeny shares his top tips for designing successful virtual ward programmes based on Huma’s experience supporting the NHS.
How we help tackle cardiac surgical waiting lists
We worked with Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals to remotely monitor and prioritise deteriorating patients.
Huma + AstraZeneca: pioneering end-to-end digital-first care and research
In March, we announced our pioneering partnership with the world-leading pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca (AZ) to scale innovation in digital health. Hear from Abby Staible, AZ’s Director of Commercial Digital Health about the impact and what’s to come in 2023.
Huma Appoints Kaushik Gune as Head of U.S. Healthcare Business to Promote Adoption of Digital Health Solutions
Huma has appointed Kaushik Gune as the company’s new U.S. Head of Healthcare
Huma Secures Clearance for Class C Medical Device Certification in India
Huma acquires Alcedis, one of the world's leading digital clinical trials companies
Huma announces that it has acquired Alcedis GmbH (“Alcedis”), a market-leader for data driven clinical research and technology.
Huma acquires eConsult and launches Huma Workspace for Health systems
Huma acquires iPLATO Healthcare to advance digital-first delivery of care
The two companies will combine their expertise to provide remote patient monitoring for NHS patients
Huma and AstraZeneca Partner to Accelerate Innovation for Digital-First Patient Care
Huma acquires AstraZeneca’s digital health platform AMAZE™ and AstraZeneca becomes a shareholder of Huma
Huma and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Launch Innovative App to Support Bladder Cancer Patients
Huma and RARE-X partner to accelerate research
Press release: RARE-X’s federated data platform will pair with Huma’s DCT platform to accelerate research
Huma and Tamer bring digital ‘hospital at home’ platform to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tamer will bring Huma’s ‘hospitals at home’ technology to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to tackle diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Huma announces US expansion
Press release: Experienced industry leaders create founding US Huma team
Huma appoints Shahram Sharif as Chief Business Officer - Medtech to accelerate digital-first use in the medtech industry
Sharif joins Huma to lead business development activities for digital companion app product
Huma calls for safeguarding of scientific collaboration
CEO & Founder Dan Vahdat speaks at World Economic Forum event in Davos.
Huma collaborates with Bayer to advance precision treatment for lung cancer
Medical technology powered using artificial intelligence
Huma collaborates with Google Cloud to improve healthcare through generative AI
Huma Therapeutics (“Huma”) today announced it will use Google Cloud’s generative AI (GenAI), including Med-PaLM 2, to enhance Huma’s regulated disease management platform.
Huma completes Series D with total financing of over $80m as it launches Huma Cloud Platform with GenAI integrations to bring digital first care and research to everyone
Huma finds way to measure breathing rate using entry-level smartphone gyroscopes
Huma researchers have verified a way to measure breathing rate using the gyroscopes in entry-level smartphones.
Huma highlights - 2022
2022 was a landmark year for Huma. Take a look back over 2022 and review our key achievements, highlights and partnerships, alongside some of our biggest successes.
Huma joins digital pioneers to advance health equity in care and research
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Dan Vahdat, is returning to the annual World Economic Forum’s main conference where he will join a panel discussion devoted to improving care for non-communicable disease and tackling health equity.
Huma joins forces with independent healthcare provider to launch virtual ward service for the NHS
Huma and Xyla Elective Care will work together to deliver tech-enabled virtual wards for the NHS
Huma launches digital-first population health programme to identify and manage cardiovascular disease
Huma launches digital-first population health programme to identify and manage cardiovascular disease
Huma forms a new partnership with Camden Health Partners and UCL Partners, supported by a grant from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare, to deliver a digital-first programme for those at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Huma named for its successful and innovative approach to clinical trials in new UK government review
NEW YORK & LONDON, May 25 2023 Huma Therapeutics (“Huma”), a leading global digital health company, is named today as an exemplar of innovation in medical research in an independent review led by former Health Minister, Lord James O’Shaughnessy entitled Commercial clinical trials in the UK.
Huma named for its successful and innovative approach to clinical trials in new UK government review
Huma obtains multi-condition Saudi FDA Class C regulatory certification for its configurable SaMD disease management platform
Huma raises $130 million financing to scale its digital health platform for better care and research
Leading names in health and technology fund expansion
Huma receives multi-condition US FDA 510(k) Class II regulatory clearance for its configurable SaMD disease management platform
NEW YORK & LONDON, June 12, 2023 Huma Therapeutics (“Huma”), a leading global digital health company, today announced that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Class II clearance for its disease-agnostic Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) platform.
Huma receives world’s first and only multi-condition EU MDR Class IIb regulatory approval for its configurable SaMD disease management platform
Huma Therapeutics, a leading global digital health company, today announced that it has become the only company in the world to receive EU MDR 2017/745 Class IIb certification for a disease agnostic Software as a Medical Device (SaMD).
Huma signs partnership with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to support cancer care
Huma to attend 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
Dan Vahdat, and Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, Ingeborg Oie, will be attending the main conference at the upcoming 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
Huma to provide best-in-class digital clinical trials solutions through landmark acquisition of Alcedis
Huma today announced that it has acquired Alcedis GmbH (“Alcedis”), a market-leader for data driven clinical research and technology.
Huma wins prestigious Prix Galien USA 2021 award
Huma’s remote patient monitoring technology is awarded ‘pharma’s Nobel Prize’
Huma wins ‘best of the best’ Prix Galien International 2022 award
Huma has won the Prix Galien International 2022 ‘best of the best digital health product’ award for the impact of its remote patient monitoring platform across healthcare and research.
Huma's attendance at the BIO International Convention, Boston on June 5th, 2023
Join Huma at the BIO International Convention on June 5th, 2023, where we'll showcase our real-world impact on patient outcomes through partnerships with top pharmaceutical companies. Learn about our innovative solutions in disease management, regulatory approvals and the future of digital health.
Huma's innovative approach to tackling medication adherence
Medication non-adherence poses a significant problem that not only impacts the patient but also the healthcare system. Read this article and discover how Huma’s new medication module can help encourage medication adherence.
Huma’s collaborative Covid-19 project wins HSJ Value Award
Our teams enabled better patient care and doubled clinical capacity with our hospital at home technology.
Huma’s peer-reviewed research links bedtime with heart health
Our peer-reviewed research explored the link between time of sleep and risk of cardiovascular disease in over 88,000 people
Hybrid vs decentralized clinical trials: weighing the options for optimal results
If the technology you are using and the team of experts implementing it don’t allow you the flexibility of running either a fully decentralised or a hybrid trial, it is probably not the best solution, furthermore, decentralisation shouldn’t mean that you must spend more money.
Increasing clinical trial success rates with adaptive technology
Overall, adaptive trials are more efficient, take less time to complete, and need fewer participants. By allowing for pre-planned modifications to a trial’s design after it has begun, adaptive trials make much better use of resources and money.
Join us for our Ask the Expert session at MedTech Forum, Dublin on 31st May
Are you interested in the latest developments in digital health and their impact on the MedTech sector? Then mark your calendars for the Ask the Expert session at MedTech Forum in Dublin on 31 May.
Keeping patients safe at home with virtual wards.
Digital health has an important role to play in reducing patient harm and improving safety. This blog explores some of the key challenges, insights and learnings that enable safer patient care when using digital technology.
Key themes from this year's MedTech Conference 2022
MedTech Conference 2022, in Boston, one of MedTech’s leading annual events, has wrapped up, and we caught up with our Huma MedTech team to get the low down on all the industry buzz from this year's show.
Largest decentralised study of its kind shows high levels of engagement with Huma’s study app
Huma announces results of the largest population-based study, exploring how digital technologies can support population research.
Mediclinic Middle East launches Mediclinic at Home
A new remote care monitoring system for patients suffering from chronic conditions
Meet Huma at J.P.Morgan
Book a meeting with Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Dan Vahdat, and Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, Ingeborg Oie, in person at the J.P. Morgan annual healthcare conference.
Microsoft White Paper: Trends Shaping the Future of Clinical Trials
Microsoft explores the future of clinical trials and how decentralization, using tools like Huma’s, could be the key to shaping their future.
NHS Long Term Plan Webinar Series
How digital technology is helping to battle the growing waiting list backlog
Optimizing Medication Management with Digital Platforms
Optimizing patients' medications is key to achieving the best treatment outcomes, but it can be a time-consuming process that requires persistence. Check out this article to learn how Huma's remote patient monitoring platform can boost adherence and improve both outcomes and clinical workflows.
Our digital health platform is now certified as a Class IIb medical device - but what does that actually mean?
Huma has become the first and only multi-condition EU MDR Class IIb regulatory approval for its configurable SaMD disease management platform. In this article, Rudolf Wagner, Huma's Global Director of Regulatory Affairs, explains what this achievement means for the future of health care.
Pharma and digital health must join forces for patients
Dan Vahdat, CEO and Founder of Huma, discusses how we are working with pharma partners to improve clinical outcomes through digital health solutions.
Powering COVID-19 virtual wards for better patient outcomes
Researchers have found that COVID-19 mortality rates were up to four times lower and hospital stays decreased by forty percent with Huma’s technology¹.
Preventing Cervical Cancer with Digital Health
Preventing Cervical Cancer with Digital Health
Remote patient monitoring pilot shortlisted for two prestigious HSJ Awards
The project has been nominated in the ‘Digitising Patient Care’ category at the HSJ Awards and ‘Virtual or Remote Care Initiative of the Year’ category at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
Shifting the dial from reactive to proactive healthcare
We believe digital healthcare tools can transform the proactive healthcare model by offering a more holistic insight into a patient’s health over time. Find out how in this blog written by our Global Clinical Director Dr. Arrash Yassaee.
Smith+Nephew partner with Huma
Press release: Smith+Nephew and Huma develop RPM app to assist the restart of UK orthopaedic surgery
Taking the ‘clinic’ out of clinical trials
Bridging research and care with digital tools
Ten highlights from 2021, our 10th anniversary year
How we’re helping ~two million users across our platforms and people around the world live longer, fuller lives
The role of digital technology in clinical trials: key learnings from Outsourcing in clinical trials and Precision in clinical trials
Read Huma's perspective on some key ideas shared at the Outsourcing in Clinical Trials Europe (Barcelona) and Precision in Clinical Trials (Boston) conferences.
Three ways that digital-first care can improve patient safety
During the COVID-19 pandemic the public were under quarantine orders preventing many patients from seeking care. A study on remote-patient monitoring showed that digital-first care provided a safe and effective option for patients with COVID-19.
UCB and Huma partner to provide digital health solution to improve management of the rare disease, Myasthenia gravis
Read about how Huma and UCB are partnering to provide digital technology that helps patients with the rare disease Myasthenia gravis better understand and manage their condition. This technology will improve education and empowerment, enabling patients to be active participants in their own care.
UCB and Huma partner to provide digital health solution to improve management of the rare disease, Myasthenia gravis
London
Millbank Tower
21-24 Millbank
London SW1P 4QP
UK
New York
14 Penn Plaza
225 West 34th Street
Floor 9
New York NY 10122
USA
