Data science and artificial intelligence in clinical research

Registration is now open for the Swiss Clinical Trial Organisation (SCTO) Symposium 2022, organised jointly with the Clinical Trial Unit EOC (CTU-EOC), which will be held for the first time in Southern Switzerland on Wednesday, 15 June 2022, from 10 am to 4:15 pm. Leading experts in the field will come from all over Switzerland and beyond to the East Campus Lugano to explore the topic of data science, and artificial intelligence applied to clinical research, focusing in particular on the potential of these technological advances and how the field is preparing for the future. Registration, which is open until 30 May 2022, is free for USI students. 

According to the famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, "our future is a race between the growing power of our technology and the wisdom with which we use it". The remarkable progress in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in recent years has also attracted considerable attention in the medical field. Indeed, the integration of these technologies can occur along the entire research chain: from discovery in basic laboratories, through the clinical application, to introduction into healthcare. The computational power of AI and ML will also streamline workflows and improve patient care by eliminating unnecessary risks.

This year's SCTO symposium explores this topic more closely from different disciplinary perspectives, thanks to the programme developed with the Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC). Thanks to keynote speakers and the presentation of national and international practical examples, it will be discussed to what extent the use of AI and ML in clinical research is already a reality, what benefits it can bring, and the risks, ethical and regulatory issues. The symposium will also provide a platform to identify tangible courses of action such as new training needs, an adaptation of processes and potential legislative gaps.

Presentations and discussions will be held in English. The detailed programme is available online https://www.scto.ch/en/event-calendar/symposium/symposium-2022.html.