ISPEP's Alex Charge reports from the Decentralised & Hybrid Clinical Trials 2026 Europe Congress
- Alex Charge
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
At the Decentralised & Hybrid Clinical Trials 2026 Europe Congress, ISPEP was pleased to contribute to two important discussions shaping the direction of research in Europe: the evolution of decentralised and hybrid trial models, and the practical application of The Participation Equation in collaboration with our sponsors Cuttsy+Cuttsy.
In a panel discussion featuring representation from the MHRA, patient expertise, and beyond, the conversation moved beyond technology to focus on trust. The future of DCTs will not be defined by how much we fully decentralise, but by how well we build trusted relationships and embed flexibility within robust, well-designed protocols and delivery models. There was broad agreement that not every study should be fully decentralised but elements were key. We openly discussed flexibility in design is increasingly supported by regulators when underpinned by strong methodology, clear oversight and appropriate safeguards but it must be shaped by and for patients.
Presenting our joint work on The Participation Equation with Cuttsy+Cuttsy generated a highly engaged response from the audience. The discussion reinforced the strong appetite for practical, participant-focused approaches to trial design and delivery. Recruitment and retention are not simply operational issues – they reflect whether participants feel confident, informed and supported throughout their trial experience.
A clear takeaway was the need for a flexible mindset. Decentralisation should be viewed as a set of adaptable elements rather than one fixed study model. Personalisation and optionality must work for both patients and sites. As modern trials increase in complexity, we must reduce complexity for sites through training, support and attention to the details that shape participant experience.
And we all agreed that the long-term ambition is a future where being offered a clinical trial is a routine part of care, integrated and not parallel to health systems, supported by trust, clarity and collaboration across regulators, healthcare professionals and patient communities.
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