While it seems fairly obvious that drug development is centred on the patient, the truth is that patients were not always an integral part of the process. Perhaps more importantly, patients were not involved in the conversation as to whether the drugs being developed would actually be beneficial and improve the patient’s quality of life.

In early 2020, ICON invited distinguished speakers; Avril Daly, Vice President of EURORDIS (Patient Advocacy), Professor Orla Hardimann, Consultant Neurologist (Clinical Investigator) Dr. Anthony Yanni, Astellas Pharma (Pharmaceutical Executive) to participate in a panel discussion, chaired by Dr. Nuala Murphy. The panellists discussed the dynamics of patient centricity in clinical research from their diverse stakeholder positions.

Discussion topics:

• Getting to grips with patient centricity
• Establishing and maintaining patient connection - patient engagement
• Improving access to trials and patient awareness of clinical research as a care option
• Decentralised and hybrid trials to overcome structural barriers
• Vision for the future