UC researcher launches app to connect patients to lifesaving trials
Tool aims to increase participation in clinical trials
A groundbreaking platform is reshaping the way research sites, health care providers, their patients and the surrounding public engage with clinical trials, as WKRC recently reported on its newscast.
Dylan Steen, MD, inside the 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Mary Dwyer
High Enroll is a startup offering a streamlined, tech-driven solution to a problem that has long hindered medical progress: participant recruitment.
At the forefront of this innovation is Dylan Steen, MD, MS, a Harvard-trained cardiologist and adjunct associate professor at the University of Cincinnati’s Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease. A veteran in the field of clinical research at UC’s College of Medicine, Steen now serves as CEO of High Enroll, a company which has developed a digital platform to allow research sites to connect health care providers and patients to clinical trials with just a few taps.
It’s about increasing visibility and making participation more accessible for everyone involved.
Dylan Steen, MD, Adjunct Associate Professor UC Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease
Barriers broken down
High Enroll phone app simplifies the process of signing up for clinical trials. Photo/Mary Dwyer
For decades, one of the most significant barriers in human subject research has been a simple lack of awareness. Many clinicians remain unaware of numerous trials taking place within their own hospitals, missing crucial opportunities to match patients with potentially life-changing therapies.
“One of the biggest challenges we face in clinical research is finding the people to participate – whether the study is about diets, exercise, medications, vaccines, or surgeries,.” Steen said.
Steen and his co-founders participated in the Venture Lab program at the UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub, a launch pad for entrepreneurs, like Steen, to turn their ideas into reality.
High Enroll was developed to address that verya critical but difficult-to-solve challenge. The platform allows research sites to help doctors, nurses, and patients to discover clinical trials in real time through great content displayed on mobile applications, email, social media, websites and even traditional paper materials.
For example, if a physician believes their patient might be a good candidate for a specific trial, they can simply open the High Enroll app on their phone, review the study details, and contact the research team for questions. If the patient is eligible, the physician can then share study information directly with the patient by having them scan a High Enroll-generated QR code or download the app. From there, a research team member or the patient themselves can reach out to discuss the next steps to participate in the clinical trial.
“It’s about increasing visibility and making participation more accessible for everyone involved,” Steen said. “This is our way of helping hospitals, private practices, and independent research sites bring visibility to their healthcare providers, patients, and the surrounding community – and the next steps to get involved.”
National impacts
High Enroll logo. Photo/High Enroll
The impact of High Enroll is already being felt nationwide. The platform is currently in use at UC, UC Health and across 24 states. It has also been adopted by some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the U.S., including the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic and Massachusetts General Hospital. These healthcare giants are turning to University of Cincinnati researcher and founder of High Enroll to improve enrollment rates and ensure that more patients have access to cutting-edge treatments.
Steen’s own credentials in the field are formidable. Over the course of his career, he’s witnessed firsthand the missed opportunities caused by communication gaps between research sites, healthcare providers and potential participants. With High Enroll, he is now leveraging technology to close those gaps.
“At the UC College of Medicine, we are committed to advancing discovery, promoting innovation and improving health outcomes through research and entrepreneurship,” states Brett Kissela, MD, executive vice dean of the UC College of Medicine. “Dr. Steen’s work is a strong reflection of that mission, demonstrating how our faculty leverage cutting-edge science and collaborative resources like the 1819 Innovation Hub to bring real-world solutions to the forefront of healthcare. This is the kind of impact we strive for as an academic medical institution.”
Steen demonstrated to WKRC the intuitiveness of the platform, allowing users to explore clinical trials directly from their phones. By putting the power of clinical trial information into the hands of both providers and patients, High Enroll isn’t just improving healthcare – it’s revolutionizing it.
Featured image at top: Dylan Steen, MD. Photo/Mary Dwyer
About UC Venture Lab
A leading model for urban-centered universities, the UC Venture Lab activates a high density of rapidly curated startup opportunities that attract outside entrepreneurial talent and investors. We connect university students, faculty, staff, and alumni to talent and funding to help launch new companies. Our team includes Office of Innovation staff as well as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs), coaches, curated service providers, and subject matter experts.
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