Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant possibility; it has become an essential force in transforming healthcare, particularly in clinical care delivery, trial design, and drug development.

In pulmonary fibrosis research, where clinical trials are key to discovering new treatments, AI can help overcome long-standing barriers by automating tasks such as patient identification, trial design, data management, and compliance. Traditionally, patients with pulmonary fibrosis are subjected to the “leaky pipeline” of clinical trial recruitment, falling through the gaps before they can even be considered for trials—whether because a provider doesn’t mention available studies, thinks a trial may be too difficult for the patient, or because the patient is seen at a center that does not participate in trials. AI changes this by mining electronic health records, applying exclusion criteria, and generating a more equitable and expansive pool of potential participants. AI can analyze medical images, such as CT scans, to detect patterns that often escape human observation, further enhancing the selection of potential trial participants.

In trial design, AI can adjust randomization in real time, ensuring that patients who may benefit most from the study drug receive it. Virtual trials, powered by AI, further break down barriers by allowing patients to participate from home.

While AI enhances efficiency and broadens trial access, human expertise remains essential to provide the nuanced judgment and ethical oversight that machines cannot. The future of clinical trials lies in a collaboration between humans and machines, known as augmented intelligence, combining the strengths of both to create a more effective, patient-centered approach to healthcare innovation.

Learn more in the PFF Summit 2023 video, Clinical trials for pulmonary fibrosis: Accelerating the search for a cure. My presentation begins at 40:34.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

At the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, we are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those affected by pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a form of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Pulmonary fibrosis is a process that causes lung scarring, in which fibrotic tissue blocks the movement of oxygen from inside the tiny air sacs in the lungs into the bloodstream. Low oxygen levels, and the stiff scar tissue itself, can cause people with pulmonary fibrosis to feel short of breath, particularly when walking and exercising. Over 250,000 Americans are living with PF today. Approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and as many as 40,000 Americans die from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) each year.

As the largest organization committed to raising awareness and providing support, our mission is to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Until this goal is achieved, the PFF is committed to advancing improved care of patients with PF and providing unequaled support and education resources for patients, caregivers, family members, and healthcare providers.