Our next interview from The World Vaccine Congress in Washington is with EmVenio Research‘s President Thad Wolfram, who joined us to present in the Clinical Trials track on “evolving vaccine trials: the power of a comprehensive hybrid strategy for improved access”. We joined Thad to learn more about this and take a look inside the amazing Community Research Site that he and his team had brought to the Congress.
Introducing the mobile site
Anyone who joined us at the Congress will have likely been intrigued by the mobile site on the exhibition floor, so we asked Thad to explain what it is. He shares that it’s the “same thing” as a “traditional brick and mortar research site”, but on wheels!
“We’ve eliminated the barriers of needing to be able to find real estate, the ability to move into any community in the US, and expanding internationally, to help drive research.”
This is particularly important for underrepresented and underserved populations.
Serving communities
Our next question considers the communities that need sites like this. Thad considers “minority populations” as a group that has not been historically represented in clinical trials “in the way that they should be”. In a significant number of the areas served by these sites, minority populations constitute over half of the total population.
“The reality is, we’re going to areas where research isn’t being conducted and those populations aren’t being engaged.”
EmVenio goes into “research deserts” to help people access research opportunities, which “speeds up overall enrolment” and leads to faster development of essential interventions. When we take a look inside the site, Thad shares that it becomes a “community research site” when it enters a community.
“It becomes a part of a committed base of active research.”
Key features
We asked Thad to tell us about some of the top features that had been attracting our attendees throughout the event. He suggests that it is like a “typical medical facility”. From multiple exam rooms and spaces for individuals to wait to lab space and freezers, it has “everything”.
“Those standard features in research, are helping drive awareness that this can be available in a number of different ways that make it easier to conduct research in places where it otherwise wouldn’t happen.”
Why WVC?
Finally, as always, we ask about EmVenio’s reasons for joining us at the event. Thad emphasises the importance of driving the awareness that he’s previously mentioned.
“The other thing that happens when we’re here and we have, as you mentioned, crowds coming by and individuals coming in, they ask great questions.”
Thad presents us with a collaborative perspective, which is rooted in answering other attendees’ questions but also “thinking about what are the new and different things we could also do with this”. This will enable EmVenio to “expand the positive impact” of their innovation.
It was great to speak to Thad and see the site; we hope that you enjoy the interview!
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