McGill, Novartis Pharmaceuticals partner to launch digital consent platform

McGill University and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc have partnered to launch a new digital platform that streamlines the consent process for participants in The Neuro Open Biobank and patient registry. Previously, patients had to meet in-person with a clinical research coordinator to give consent to participate in clinical trials; under the new process, patients can meet with a virtual coordinator, consider their participation in their own time, and then provide consent using the accessible, online platform. “This new platform allows us to dramatically expand our Biobank and registry recruitment as well as our work with patient groups and disease networks to find patients/people to participate in research,” said McGill Associate Professor Jason Karamchandani. “It will also make the consent process less strenuous for patients.”