Blockchain and clinical trials: How the medical world continues to evolve
Summary
All of these aspects are hidden behind digital signatures in order to keep any identifying information private on the otherwise publicly viewable transaction. When it comes to clinical trials, these transactions are not monetary, but contain data that is very valuable and sensitive and thus requires the same amount of security and transparency as a financial exchange. Clinical trials have a lot of cooks in the kitchen, starting with the patients, of course, but extending to sponsors, regulators, and ultimately companies who will be utilising the data to curb their products or deem them medically advantageous for public use. Given the multiple layers of sensitivity with this information, and the dollar signs that could come with stealing it, security revolving around clinical trial data is paramount. Blockchain is still viewed with a lot of skepticism, due primarily to being a new technology, even within the finance sector that it first garnered popularity in.