Clinical Research Informatics: Recent Advances and Future Directions

Area of Science:

• Informatics
• Clinical Research
• Health Data Science

Background:

• Clinical Research Informatics (CRI) is crucial for optimizing clinical trial processes.
• Rapid advancements in technology necessitate regular updates on the state of CRI.
• Understanding recent developments aids in identifying future research trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive summary of key advancements in CRI over the last two years.
• To identify and discuss emerging challenges and opportunities within the field.
• To outline future directions for Clinical Research Informatics.

Main Methods:

• A thorough literature review was conducted to identify significant advances.
• The survey focused on current research, open problems, and opportunities in CRI.
• Advances were categorized based on their application in clinical research use cases.

Main Results:

• Recent progress in CRI has been observed across three core clinical research areas: protocol feasibility assessment, patient identification and recruitment strategies, and the execution phase of clinical trials.
• Specific technological and methodological innovations have enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in these areas.
• The literature highlights a growing integration of informatics tools in managing clinical trial workflows.

Conclusions:

• Clinical Research Informatics is a rapidly evolving and dynamic field.
• Key factors for future progress include fostering global collaboration, adopting open metadata standards, implementing semantic content standards, and developing computable eligibility criteria.
• These elements are essential for advancing the capabilities and impact of CRI in healthcare research.