Speeding Up the Research Process Using Real-World Data

Clinical trials are an excellent way to collect data for myeloma treatments and to get new therapies approved by the FDA. However, clinical trials are long and costly. 

Why Does Clinical Trial Data Take So Long To Collect?

Thankfully, patients are doing so well on therapies that progression-free survival and other primary endpoint data often take several years, even a decade or more, to collect. 

Additionally, the clinical trial process understandably requires time to fund, set up, be approved, enroll a sufficient amount of patients, conduct the trial, and manage the complications, delays, and potential red tape that can come along the way. This can mean that from the time a myeloma researcher has a research idea to the time the clinical trial actually starts could be a matter of years. 

All of this time means millions of dollars are required to fund and support these trials. This often makes it unrealistic for a myeloma researcher to conduct an independent clinical trial rather than one that is funded by pharma companies. 

How Can Myeloma Real-World Data Speed Up Research? 

Real-world data allows data to be collected quickly and efficiently. What is taking years to collect in the clinical setting can take a mere matter of months.

HealthTree Research Hub allows rapid real-world data requests to be granted to myeloma researchers to support quicker research. 

How?

1. There is no time or cost in enrolling patients. Researchers are able to access a validated set of anonymized patient records that provide important information to answer their research requests.  
2. Studies can be done retrospectively because the data that researchers search for already exists, there is no need to wait for progression-free survival to be met.        

Myeloma patients can't afford to wait years and decades to get better treatments, dose adjustments, and other elements that can improve their quality of life. Real-world data studies through HealthTree Research Hub can accelerate necessary studies and surveys to significantly improve myeloma care and lead us to myeloma cures for each and every patient. 

Hear how myeloma specialist, Dr. Irene Ghobrial, feels about HealthTree's research initiatives here: 

How Can You Help? 

Participate in myeloma research as or on behalf of a myeloma patient by completing one of the following: 

1. Connect your medical records to our database in HealthTree Cure Hub today. It's quick and easy, and you can share your records with confidence that your personal information will be kept private. All information shared with researchers is anonymized. We value your privacy and your security. 
2. Stay tuned to our News Site during March, Myeloma Awareness Month. Our goal this month is to help you be aware of research opportunities for you and your doctor. We will publish articles each week with action steps on how to participate and allow others to do the same. Share these with those in your myeloma circles. 
3. Participate in surveys and studies within HealthTree Cure Hub. This can take 3-5 minutes of your time and influence the way that healthcare providers are treating myeloma patients. Join Cure Hub and start participating today.
4. Ask your doctor if they are interested in submitting a research proposal to the HealthTree Research Hub. The call for proposals opened March 1st, 2024 and will close at the end of the month. 
5. Share this article with those in your myeloma circle! The more people that know about and participate in real world data research, the closer we are to a myeloma cure!