Rochester, Minnesota – The Mayo Clinic and IBM Watson Health recently shared early results from a clinical trial matching initiative powered by the Watson system, an advanced cognitive computing platform developed by IBM. This collaboration has led to a notable rise in patient enrollment in breast cancer clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic.
The two organizations have also entered into an agreement to further train and expand the use of the Watson system across additional cancer types. Currently, the system supports clinical trial matching for breast, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers, with training for other cancer types already in progress.
Clinical trials offer patients access to innovative and potentially life-saving treatments. However, identifying suitable candidates and matching them to the right trial is often a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. Only about 5% of cancer patients in the U.S. participate in clinical trials, which can lead to delays in research and limited treatment options for patients.
A recent study highlights how AI-driven tools like Watson are helping streamline this process, making it faster and more efficient. Tufia Haddad, MD, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic and leader of the Watson Clinical Trials Matching Program, stated, “These new solutions are addressing critical clinical needs and advancing cancer research to improve patient outcomes.â€
Dr. Haddad will present the program at the annual meeting of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Association in Las Vegas.
The goal of the Watson Clinical Trial Matching Program is to accurately and consistently match eligible patients with appropriate clinical trials, enabling healthcare providers to include these options in their patients’ care plans. Over time, the Mayo team refined workflows and screening processes, and began educating patients on the benefits of clinical trials. In July 2016, the system was implemented for ambulatory breast cancer patients through the clinic’s Clinical Screening Research Coordinator.
Within 11 months of implementation, participation in breast cancer systemic therapy trials increased by an average of 80%. Additionally, the time required to screen patients for trial eligibility was significantly reduced compared to traditional methods.
Dr. Haddad noted, “This ensures that all patients have the opportunity to be considered for clinical trials. The speed and accuracy of the Watson system, combined with the efforts of the screening team, allow our physicians to develop comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs.â€
Looking ahead, the Mayo Clinic and IBM Watson Health plan to expand the system to include trials for other cancer types, as well as areas such as surgery, radiation therapy, and supportive care.
home energy storage,household power storage,home solar power,all in one system
Enershare Tech Company Limited , https://www.enersharepower.com