There are countless great things that mobile devices and computing have brought to our everyday lives. Just ten years ago, computing was a static concept. When computers and software were purchased, the user was stuck with that product, in all its usefulness and deficiencies alike. The only option for organizations was to hire a pricey team of in-house programmers to provide what was needed. This model was lucrative for the industry, but costly for the end-user. Even the prices, with inflation accounted for, were dramatically higher.
It’s obvious the realm of computers and the software tools available have evolved. There is no arguing how computing and the web have created an environment where it is a privilege to use the tools available today. Those tools can even be acquired with the tap of a finger. Have you ever stopped and thought just how much more efficient and convenient web applications are making everyday life, especially for such a low cost? Operating systems, software, and the web are evolving at a faster pace every month. Entire operating systems are being pushed out to users for free. Some of the most powerful mobile applications are inexpensive, if not free. The reason this is the case is because programming is much easier than it used to be, and web advancements have allowed for access to state-of-the-art applications that are continuously being updated with enhancements and fixes to make the best possible experience for users. We have come such a long way.
The most significant change that has taken place in the last decade is the level at which the web has become so fundamentally powerful and universal. We communicate, bank, shop, do our taxes, and even keep track of our families via web applications. We have embraced this paradigm in our personal lives because it has improved life. So it only makes sense that we use it everywhere.
What is the fastest evolving industry in the world? Naturally, it’s the tech industry. Not so much because web technology was responsible for this paradigm, but because technology companies as a whole are using it to continuously improve on the end products.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are the industries or individual companies who have not adopted the power of recent technology or the web. Medical research is one of the lagging industries still working off of Excel and customized databases built on primitive platforms. These methods have been used for decades. Most companies doing this research have been slow to change. This is part of the reason medical research comes at such a high price. The tools being used to track the research are not following the technological standard that would allow for much lower costs. A previous post, The Price of Medical Research, begins to address the economically painful causes of the high medical care costs. However, it doesn’t just stop at cost. Even more significant is the level at which these companies are inhibiting the evolution of medical research.
Medical research of all types is one of the most important industries in the world. It’s an integral part of what drives the advancement of humanity. Everyone involved in research, from the billion-dollar sponsors to people behind the scenes plugging away at the core data of studies are a part of this important cause. So it goes without saying that medical research should directly follow the paradigm of the tech industry. The problem is, in some cases it’s lagging way behind, and in other cases, the technology is being significantly overcharged. Remember, we are at a point where software and tools have become affordable because programming has become more powerful. We can purchase powerful mobile applications for $0.99 each and get free improvements and updates on that application for its lifetime. Yet, the largest medical research companies driving human advancement are paying millions for the software they use, and then millions more to make improvements on it. At the same time, the tiny research organizations or academic organizations, whose research is some of the most groundbreaking, can’t access the powerful research software and tools because, well, they can’t afford it.
On one hand, we have high medical costs that originate at the multi-billion-dollar research companies. On the other hand, we have important research that is either lost or takes an inordinate amount of time to make it through the research lifecycle. TrialKit was created to address this problem, and help research happen more efficiently at a much lower cost. To follow the paradigm of today’s technology standards, TrialKit has made the tools web-based and mobile, so the tools are always being enhanced without making the product cost more. By using TrialKit to create and manage research studies, research can be done at a fraction of the cost, and everyone would have access to the latest software tools. Technology has created a new paradigm. TrialKit has brought that paradigm to research.
