Stephen Apps is director and global head of Clinical Programming at the specialized Clinical Research Organization (CRO) Allucent. Here he discusses how technology can help improve the speed and quality of clinical research, and why a dedicated, cross-functional approach is needed to maximize its value for smaller biotechs.What drew you to a career that applies technical expertise to drug development?Im really energized by the pace of innovation in the tech realm. Its exciting to look back year after year and marvel at the new advances we continually achieve and witness how humans are capable of making the impossible possible. I often say to people in my life,this time next year we will look back on the last year and go wow, I did not anticipate that.The same is true in drug development and here, lives are at stake.Thats why its critical that we maximize the impact that technology can have on the efficiency and quality of clinical research.To work at the crossroads of technology and healthcare, helping advance potentially lifesaving and life-changing treatments as quickly and efficiently as possible is a humbling experience. Its an opportunity that Im very grateful for. I started my career at a large CRO where I developed a specialty in electronic data capture (EDC) systems and statistical programming. From there I moved to the tech side of the industry, working at Medidata Solutions supporting partner CROs. Not only did my time at Medidata help grow the breadth and depth of my technical expertise, but it also gave me a window into how various CROs operate, which provided insights that I continue to take forward to optimize the services we provide for our clients at Allucent today.After working at larger CROs and technology companies, what made you decide to join Allucent?There were many things that drew me to Allucent. Chief among them was Allucents focus on small and mid-sized biotechs. Smaller biotech companies are working at the cutting edge of science, developing compounds with the potential to address some of the most challenging diseases of our time. However, because of their size, many do not have in-house teams with the specialized knowledge needed to successfully navigate the drug development pathway. Therefore, smaller companies in particular need highly customized, hands-on support. I get a lot of satisfaction using my expertise to help our partners determine the best strategy and implement the right solutions for their programs to bring next-generation treatments to the patients who need them. Whats more, the opportunity to grow and support a team thats empowered, highly energized and enthusiastic about bringing innovative ideas to the table for Allucent, our clients, and ultimately, patients is another reason Im very grateful to do what I do each day.How does the work you do in Clinical Programming bring value to your biotech partners in todays complex and quickly evolving drug development landscape?The technology and data science solutions at our disposal today can do a tremendous amount to help sponsors accelerate development, minimize risks and optimize outcomes of their programs. Because every program is unique and many of our clients are working in complex and challenging diseases where no previous pathway exists its not just about informing clients about what canbe done, but providing experience-based insights and guidance about what will bring the most value for their particular program and needs.To do this,weve built a team of experts who possess deep clinical and technical experience in key and complex therapeutic areas and modalities, and work seamlessly across functions to meet the unique needs of each partner and their specific program/s. This means we provide cohesive strategic planning and implementation informed byexpert perspectives, not just from our team in Clinical Programming, but also from colleagues in medical, regulatory affairs and more, so that our clients benefit from an extensive breadth of knowledge and integrated global resources.Weve also built strong, collaborative relationships with our technology vendors. Not only does this help us determine the best approach for each particular study, but also importantly keeps us at the forefront of new innovations, providing direct information about product enhancements and new functionality, which enables us to anticipate future product rollouts and incorporate them seamlessly as early adopters.Overall, Id say its a combination of technical and clinical expertise, passion for being at the forefront of innovation, and a partnership approach working collaboratively internally across functions, with our technology vendors, and hand-in-hand with our clients that enables us to maximize value for our small and mid-sized biotech partners.What do you see as some of the biggest opportunities and/or challenges ahead in drug development for smaller biotechs, and how can technology help optimize and/or address those?Currently, rising costs and access to meaningful data are some of the biggest challenges facing smaller biotech companies. Whats exciting though is how we can leverage the influx of new technology and additional data sources to increase efficiencies and produce more effective solutions for our partners. Looking ahead, there will be many opportunities to collate data in new ways to support process improvements and better-informed decision making through advancements in technology such as AI. In fact, we will be finalizing a new AI-based tool in the near future to support our Data Management team through the implementation of EDC solutions. Overall, I expect that the use of new technologies will deliver unprecedented efficiencies over the next several years.Beyond the technologies themselves,one of the most energizing parts of my job is pooling the insights of people from various backgrounds, who bring diverse expertise and experiences, to come up with innovative solutions that address the challenges our partners face today and optimize the opportunities before us.I know that this time next year, Ill look back and say, Wow, I did not anticipate that look at what we achieved together. Its one of the most gratifying parts of what I do, and why Im highly optimistic about what lies ahead and our collective ability to bring next-generation therapies to patients around the world. '