Big data is an important keyword in this context. This is because the evaluation of large amounts of data using intelligent algorithms is fast and reliable. As a result, digital analysis methods offer enormous potential for medical research. While researchers in the past used to need to conduct complex study designs, researchers today can collect large amounts of data outside the clinical environment. “We not only evaluate the classical clinical data that is documented by the doctor as part of the treatment being carried out – now we can take into account a much broader range of data, some of which is generated directly by the patient,” says Alcedis CEO Haertlein. This data includes medical devices such as the permanent blood glucose monitor of diabetes patients, an asthmatic’s inhaler or simple lifestyle wearables such as fitness trackers that measure biosensory data such as movement, blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate. “These devices provide us with high-quality data that we can securely transfer to the study database, usually via a smartphone app, and correlate with clinical data,” Haertlin continues. “Thanks to smartphones, permanent interaction with patients – such as querying changes in quality of life or in the context of therapy, or side effect management – is now safe and easy to implement.”