Lightship's hopes for SCOPE 2024 - AI and tech in clinical trials creating the buzz

Lightship-at-SCOPE-2024-and-its-people-first-approach-to-trials.jpg
© Sepehr Shojaei

Sepehr Shojaei serves as the vice president of design solutions at Lightship, using his 15 years of experience in clinical research operations to champion a patient-centric approach.

Motivated by a commitment to underserved populations, he joined Lightship to prioritize access, choice, and equity in clinical trials, ensuring no group is left behind.

Drawing from roles at institutions like UCLA, USC, City of Hope, and Science 37, Sepehr employs novel and innovative strategies to enhance clinical trials. He holds an MPH from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor's in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine.

Lightship was launched in late 2018 to make clinical trials accessible to every patient in need. With experience in public health, healthcare, and clinical research, the company’s aim was to set out to build the best people-first service company in the industry to solve for the challenges in developing new and safe therapies for all people.

Why do you think it is important to attend SCOPE?        

Attending SCOPE is important for keeping up with the latest strategies and approaches in clinical trial operations. It’s a great event to network with industry leaders and explore new collaboration opportunities in different areas of our field.

What do you hope to achieve this year while you are there?     

We’re looking forward to meeting with new and current partners across the industry to enhance a people-first approach to clinical trials. Our goal at SCOPE is to learn about innovative solutions and partners that extend trials to more people, promoting inclusivity and accessibility to support our projects.

Do you have an inkling what the buzz theme will be this year? 

With all the buzz and new work in AI and tech in clinical trials, that could be an exciting area for impact in supporting patient-centric approaches and a better experience. We also expect a focus on building long-term community partnerships, underscoring the growing importance of collaborative and inclusive approaches in clinical research.

For those who have never attended SCOPE before, what would you say to entice them?             

SCOPE is a great opportunity to learn about new approaches in clinical research and operations. It’s also a fantastic place to meet industry leaders, bringing together different perspectives on how we can improve clinical trials for participants.

What part of it are you looking forward to the most?    

We’re really looking forward to the presentations at SCOPE, especially the chance to hear from other groups in our session about the success of clinical trial partnerships. It’s a great opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and insights.