Carbon Footprint of Decentralized Clinical Trials Project

Project Charter

The Clinical Trial Environmental Impact project wishes to develop a dynamic model that compares the carbon footprint of a clinical trial in traditional, hybrid and fully decentralised settings.

Process: From Ideation to Delivery

Project Workflow

Ideation
Discussion & Validation
Problem Statement & Business Case
Member Funding
Project Live

Challenge

Reducing the environmental impact of life sciences is crucial due to increasing pressure from patients, healthcare payers, and governments. Emerging legislation is expected to mandate that pharmaceutical and contract research organizations measure and report on their environmental footprint.

Solution

The Pistoia Alliance has identified an immediate opportunity in assessing the environmental impact of clinical trials. Despite being a visible area, the carbon footprint of these trials is rarely evaluated. As more companies shift towards Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT), it’s unclear whether this model will increase or decrease their carbon footprint. Developing a robust assessment methodology will require collaboration between experts in life sciences and sustainability.