Trials with Maya Z

Епизоди

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  The Transparency Mindset: Why Clinical Trial Results Still Go Missing with Andrew Freeman 13.07.2026 44мин

  Andrew Freeman spent over two decades at GSK, where he led the company's efforts on clinical trial transparency - trial registration, results reporting, and sharing patient-level data with researchers. Yet when his own father was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, he couldn't find him a trial through clinicaltrials.gov. He gave up and found one through a personal contact instead. As Andrew puts it, that shouldn't be the way it works.Andrew was at the WHO meeting in Geneva where the 20 or so data elements for study registration were identified, and since the end of 2022 he chairs the board of ISRCTN, the UK's clinical study registry.In this episode, Andrew and Maya discuss:Why a "compliance mindset" and a "transparency mindset" are not the same thing - and why studies outside the regulatory definition of a clinical trial should still be transparentWhat the latest HRA metrics really show: 94% of UK studies registered sounds good, until you see that only around 44% published their resultsHow ISRCTN is trying to make transparency easier - mandatory plain language summaries, mandatory recruitment site information, and a results posting system now in its second prototypeWhere AI could help make trial information understandable for patients, carers, and the public
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  The Value of Early Access Programs With Naomi Litchfield 23.03.2026 24мин

  Naomi Litchfield’s passion for Early Access Programs (EAPs) stems from a personal experience - her sister’s life was saved by an early access drug after being diagnosed with four rare cancers. With nearly 20 years of industry experience, Naomi is now the Director Patient Advocacy at Bionical Emas.In this episode, Naomi and Maya discuss: • What Early Access Programs are and how they work • How EAPs provide hope and open doors for patients in need • The challenges and considerations involved in setting up an EAPEarly Access Resources:https://bionicalemas.com/resources/johnson-johnson-guide-to-expanded-access/https://bionicalemas.com/resources/what-is-a-clinical-trial/https://bionicalemas.com/resources/what-is-an-early-access-program/https://bionicalemas.com/resources/what-is-real-world-data/Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Naomi Litchfield: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-litchfield-499670122/
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  The Power of Innovative Trial Designs with Philip Raeth 18.03.2025 31мин

  Clinical trials are evolving, but are we innovating fast enough? In this episode Maya sits down with Philip Raeth from Palleos Healthcare to explore how new trial designs can challenge the status quo. From adaptive methodologies to efficiency-driven models, we discuss how rethinking trial structure can help us tackle industry-wide hurdles—not just in patient recruitment and retention, but in trial execution, costs, and outcomes. What does the future of clinical trials look like? Tune in as we brainstorm new possibilities.Follow Philip Raeth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-raeth-51911114/Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/
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  How to get from Sick Care to Health Care and Rethinking Pharma’s Role with Paul Simms 31.01.2025 36мин

  Paul Simms is the CEO of Impatient Health and a trailblazing voice in the life sciences industry. Paul is on a mission to push the boundaries of pharma. He works with innovators and early adopters to inject “mutation pressure” into the status quo, ensuring bold ideas and creative solutions make their way into the market. Drawing on his experience as a speaker, event organizer, and consultant, Paul discusses how pharma can evolve to truly align with patients’ needs. Together, with Maya they explore the intersection of innovation, behavioral science, and systemic transformation in healthcare.What You’ll Learn:- Why Paul believes the pharma industry is still in its infancy and how it can grow.- What “mutation pressure” means and how it can drive innovation in pharma.- The critical role of patient engagement and behavioral science in improving healthcare outcomes.- How Paul’s work with major pharma companies has shaped his views on the future of the industry.- Practical lessons from other industries, including fashion and tech, that pharma can adopt.
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  Patient Engagement and Standard of Care in Rare Disease Trials with Orit Rindner 10.12.2024 18мин

  In this episode of Trials with Maya Z, Maya and patient expert and advocate Orit Rindner discuss the intersection of patient needs and clinical trials, highlighting real-world challenges and insights from rare disease research:The impact of standard of care on patient willingness to join clinical trialsChallenges in rare disease trials and patient recruitmentThe importance of aligning clinical trials with patient realitiesFollow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Orit Rindner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oritrindner/   (00:00) - Chapter 1 (00:00) - Introduction to Clinical Research and Patient Advocacy (02:28) - The Intersection of Patient Advocacy and Clinical Trials (04:49) - Patient Perspectives on Clinical Trials (06:47) - Engagement of Patients in Clinical Trial Design (10:11) - Isolated vs multidisciplinary approach (12:27) - The Role of Patient Advocates in Clinical Research (16:12) - Impact of Current Events on Clinical Research in Israel
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  Endometriosis: Why Standard Care Isn't Cutting It - Exploring the Gaps with Estelle Jobson 26.11.2024 39мин

  "Only 1-4% of global healthcare R&D funding is dedicated to female-specific conditions beyond cancer, despite women representing 51% of the population.” Meet Estelle Jobson - an EUPATI Fellow and a patient advocate living with endometriosis. In this episode, Maya and Estelle discuss the limitations of standard care for this chronic condition and call for research that addresses its diverse symptoms. Why Standard care for endometriosis fails to address patient needs?What is wrong with the current definition of endometriosis?What are the current treatment gaps?Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Estelle Jobson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estelle-jobson-27389821/ (00:00) - Introduction and Background (02:00) - Lack of Funding for Women's Health Research (05:34) - Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating Endometriosis (09:23) - Limitations of Current Clinical Trials (15:57) - The Need for Fresh Perspectives in Endometriosis Research (25:47) - Including a Wider Range of Patients in Clinical Trials (30:15) - Addressing the Diverse Symptoms of Endometriosis (36:29) - Summary and Conclusion
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  RWD Data and Trust in Clinical Trials: Ritesh Patel’s Take 19.11.2024 30мин

  Join Maya Zlatanova and Ritesh Patel from Finn Partners as they dive into the evolving world of real-world data in clinical trials. Discover the challenges of integrating diverse patient data, the role of social determinants in trial outcomes, and how emerging technologies like AI and digital biomarkers are set to revolutionize the industry. Packed with insights on collaboration and innovation, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about transforming healthcare through data-driven strategies.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Ritesh Patel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riteshpatel/
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  The patient journey in US vs EU and how involving patients early on can help with Ella Balasa 14.11.2024 26мин

  Ella Balasa has experience on both sides of the research spectrum - as a patient with cystic fibrosis and as a scientist examining antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She is on a mission to amplify patient voices in drug development. In this episode Ella and Maya discuss:Ella’s journey and advising experienceThe difference in the patient journey in US vs. EuropeThe often overlooked challenges in patient access to careFollow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Ella Balasa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-balasa/
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  Real-world data: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly with Jan Poleszczuk from CliniNote 29.10.2024 22мин

  Meet Jan Poleszczuk, a mathematician turned healthcare innovator and a CTO of CliniNote. In this episode Maya and Jan talk about:- The top 3 challenges hindering the quality of RWD- How CliniNote is helping doctors generate quality data while simplifying their workflow- The potential of RWD in clinical trials Tune in to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of Real-World Data and how innovators like Jan Poleszczuk are working to unlock its full potential to improve patient care and drive healthcare innovation.Follow Maya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/ Follow Jan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-poleszczuk-70200117/Learn more about CliniNote: https://clininote.com/ (00:00) - Introduction and Background (02:58) - The issues with RWD (06:47) - The Importance of Medical Notes in Real-World Data (11:34) - Automating Transcription of Doctors' Notes (17:09) - Empowering Doctors to Generate High-Quality Data (19:28) - Focusing on Doctors' Jobs to Improve Real-World Data (21:26) - Conclusion and Future of Real-World Data
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  Understanding the Patient Journey is Our Duty as Researchers: Esther Howard's Insights from Two Decades in Clinical Research 22.10.2024 33мин

  Meet Esther Howard, Mental Health Advocate, Researcher and CEO of Bezyl. In this conversation, Esther shares her unique perspective on the importance of understanding patient journey, not just as a scientific necessity, but as a fundamental human duty for researchers. Esther explores the three critical prongs of patient journey: standard of care, the specifics of the patient's disease, and the often-overlooked aspects of their daily lives. She emphasizes the need for researchers to look beyond the protocol and embrace a more holistic view of patients' experiences, arguing that by embracing our human duty to understand and empathize with patients' experiences, we can not only advance scientific knowledge but also create a more compassionate and patient-centric approach to clinical research.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/ Follow Esther Howard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-howard-7352b3b3/ Learn more about Bezyl: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bezyl/ (00:00) - Introduction and Background (03:22) - Understanding the Patient Journey (11:38) - The Importance of the Patient Journey (18:42) - Patient Needs and Perception (22:22) - The Role of Real-World Data (28:57) - Implications for Clinical Trials
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  Connecting the Dots in The Patient Journey - The Importance Of Patient Trust with Heidi Floyd 15.10.2024 20мин

  Meet Heidi Floyd, a breast cancer survivor, patient advocate, and champion for transforming clinical trials through authentic patient engagement. In this powerful episode, Heidi shares her remarkable journey of navigating cancer treatment while pregnant.Heidi emphasizes the critical importance of building meaningful relationships between patients, healthcare providers, and clinical trial teams. She discusses the common reasons patients may choose to quit clinical trials and the need for greater understanding and support of patient circumstances.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Heidi Floyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-floyd-b89b179/ (00:00) - Introduction and Heidi's Breast Cancer Journey (04:06) - Becoming a Patient Advocate (06:36) - The Importance of Patient Engagement (10:27) - Addressing Financial and Logistical Barriers (15:28) - The Role of Technology in Patient Engagement (19:28) - The Choice for Pregnant Women in Clinical Research
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  Building the Batman Belt: Leveraging Data and Standard of Care in Trials with Travis Caudill 08.10.2024 41мин

  Meet Travis Caudill, Vice President of Feasibility and Clinical Informatics at ICON, a seasoned expert in the world of clinical trial optimization. Discover how Travis and his team are navigating the complexities of trial feasibility—using data to optimize site selection, understanding local patient journeys, and anticipating changes in the standard of care. Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Travis Caudill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feasibility/  (00:00) - Introduction and Background (04:34) - The Access to Data and Tools for Analysis (08:57) - The Focus on Optimizing Clinical Trials (13:01) - The Impact of Data on Geographical Selection (15:46) - The Importance of the Patient Journey (20:07) - Engaging Investigators and Leveraging Data (21:54) - Predicting Clinical Trial Success (24:06) - Simplifying Decision-Making (25:56) - Protocol Variability (27:55) - The Need for Quick Decision-Making (31:52) - Building Comprehensive Platforms (34:42) - Balancing Experience and Protocol (36:56) - Global Access and Data Penetration
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  How To Prevent Clinical Trial Nightmares With Ilknur Lechthaler 01.10.2024 22мин

  Ilknur Lechthaler is an expert in clinical operations, research, and startup investments. Ilknur discusses how the industry's awareness of the significance of country-specific standard of care has evolved over the past decade. Together with Maya they dive into the practical aspects of country selection and the factors that influence decision-making, such as regulatory requirements, timelines, and budget constraints. Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Ilknur Lechthaler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilknur-lechthaler/
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  Mapping the Patient Journey: Roadmap to Successful Trial Design with Todd Georgieff 24.09.2024 42мин

  Meet Todd Georgieff - a veteran in drug development and clinical operations with expertise in optimizing global trials. In this episode, Todd and Maya explore the critical aspects of protocol optimization and patient burden quantification. How does understanding local standard of care impact trial success? What are the ethical implications of providing treatments in different healthcare systems? Todd shares insights on these questions and more.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Todd Georgieff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddgeorgieff/ (00:00) - Introduction and Background (03:12) - Understanding the Local Patient Pathway and Standard of Care (10:54) - Making Clinical Trials More Attractive to Patients (19:29) - The Implications of Not Considering Standard of Care (23:37) - Quantifying Patient Burden in Clinical Trials (28:38) - Feasibility of Quantification Method for Global Trials (37:47) - The Future of Clinical Trials: Data Interoperability (41:41) - Predicting the Next Game Changer for Clinical Trials
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  How Access to Treatments Impacts Trials: From Protocol Development, to Country and Site Selection with Kasia Harris 17.09.2024 32мин

  Meet Kasia Harris - an expert in clinical trial feasibility and planning with experience in both CRO and Pharma.  bringing valuable insights into the complexities of global healthcare systems. In this episode, Kasia and Maya delve into the critical role of understanding local standard of care in clinical trial success. They explore feasibility assessments, protocol, country, and site-specific considerations. Kasia highlights how standard of care impacts patient enrollment, country and site selection, and overall trial efficiency. This episode is a must listen for anyone involved in planning or conducting international clinical trials.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Kasia Harris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasia-harris-md-16316b44/ (00:00) - Introduction and Background (03:06) - Feasibility Assessment (06:07) - Importance of Understanding the Local Standard of Care (10:40) - Impact of Standard of Care on Patient Enrollment (25:28) - Challenges of Assessing the Standard of Care (27:09) - Standard of Care in Selecting Comparators and Budget Implications
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  Viagra's Hard Lessons: Why Understanding the Patient Journey is Non-Negotiable with Annabel de Maria Bosch 10.09.2024 33мин

  Meet Annabel de Maria Bosch - the Chief Patient Officer at Alira Health with nearly three decades of experience in patient engagement across the pharmaceutical industry. In this insightful conversation, Annabel shares her unique perspective on the critical importance of understanding the patient journey and its impact on clinical trial success. Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Annabel de Maria Bosch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabeldemaria/Annabel shares some very curious studies in the episode:1)Stergiopoulos et al., Measuring the Impact of Patient Engagement and Patient Centricity in Clinical Research and Development (2020);2)Levitan et al., Assessing the Financial Value of Patient Engagement: A Quantitative Approach from CTTI’s Patient Groups and Clinical Trials Project (2018);3)Getz, Establishing Return-on-Investment Expectations for Patient-Centric Initiatives (2015)
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  From Carer to Catalyst: Joy Milne's Journey to Revolutionize Parkinson's Research 05.09.2024 30мин

  Meet Joy Milne, a remarkable woman whose unique sense of smell is revolutionizing the world of Parkinson's research. In this episode, Joy shares her personal story of love, loss, and unwavering determination to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Parkinson's, from her groundbreaking work with researchers at the University of Manchester to her advocacy for greater awareness of the challenges faced by women with the disease. Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Learn more about Joy Milne and her work:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/14/magazine/parkinsons-smell-disease-detection.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/820274501/her-incredible-sense-of-smell-is-helping-scientists-find-new-ways-to-diagnose-di (00:00) - Introduction to Joy Milne and her Advocacy Work (05:40) - Balancing Biotech Work and Caregiving (06:34) - Challenges in Parkinson's Research and Lack of New Medications (10:37) - Differences in Parkinson's Disease between Men and Women (14:18) - Encouraging Early Diagnosis in Parkinson's (16:56) - Variations in Parkinson's Care across Countries (18:43) - The Importance of Patient Engagement in Clinical Trials (21:04) - Challenges in Communication between Researchers and Patient Advocates (23:34) - The Benefits of a Person-Based Approach in Healthcare (25:49) - The Implications of Patient Public Involvement in Research (29:20) - Positive Changes and Future Outlook in Parkinson's Research
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  The true cost of patient acquisition and the ever-rising site burden with Ted Trafford 03.09.2024 28мин

  Meet Ted Trafford - a seasoned clinical research expert with nearly three decades of experience and a passion for driving innovation in the industry. As the Director of Business Development at Probity Medical Research, Ted brings unique insights into the challenges faced by sites, sponsors, and patients in the clinical trial landscape.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Ted Trafford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedtrafford/Check out Ted's post mentioned in the episode: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tedtrafford_clinical-trial-marathon-activity-7221841156958011392-tb1e
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  Fail-Proofing Clinical Trials: Lessons in Smart Planning with Angie Schwab 26.08.2024 33мин

  Meet Angie Schwab - founder of EZ Research Solutions and a passionate expert in clinical research with a focus on improving trial startup processes. In this episode, Angie and Maya dive deep into the challenges and solutions in clinical trial design and execution. Angie shares her insights on the critical importance of thorough planning, understanding local standards of care, and involving all stakeholders - including patients - in study design. They explore how poor initial planning can set trials up for failure and discuss innovative solutions, including the role of automation and AI in streamlining processes and reducing errors. Angie's vision for the future of clinical trials, emphasizing digitalization, standardization, and intelligent study design from the ground up, offers a compelling look at the evolving landscape of clinical research.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Angie Schwab: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-schwab/ (00:00) - Introduction and Background (02:42) - The Importance of Thorough Planning (07:26) - Understanding the Local Standard of Care (12:38) - Passion for Startup and Problem Solving (17:44) - The Role of Automation and AI (22:41) - The Future of Clinical Trial Startup (25:53) - Moving Towards Digitalization and Standardization
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  Small Patients, Big Challenges: Obstacles in Paediatric Rare Disease Research with Begonya Nafria 22.08.2024 34мин

  Meet Begonya Nafria - Head of the Patient Engagement  in Research Department at Hospital Sant Juan de Déu Children’s Hospital, championing the cause of paediatric clinical research. In this eye-opening episode, Begonya and Maya delve into the unique challenges of conducting clinical trials for children, especially those with rare diseases. Begonya highlights the startling fact that 95% of rare diseases have no approved treatment, emphasizing the urgent need for increased research investment and improved access to cross-border clinical trials for children and young patients in Europe . This conversation underscores the importance of meaningful patient engagement in designing better trials and ultimately improving care outcomes for children and young people.Follow Maya Zlatanova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayazlatanova/Follow Begonya Nafria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnafria/Let’s help Begonya's project on language discrimination in cross-border trials: If you’re a parent of a child with a rare disease, please collaborate by responding to this survey (available in 22 European languages): https://bit.ly/Survey_Parents_CTIf you’re interested in getting involved as an AMBASSADOR for Begonya’s research project on language discrimination in access to paediatric cross-border clinical trials in Europe, please complete this form: https://bit.ly/CT_Ambassadors