If clinical trials are already digitized, why do clinical operations remain so complex, manual and resource-intensive?

In this episode of Early Signals, Wael Harb, MD, speaks with Ram Yalamanchili, Founder and CEO of Tilda Research, about the next frontier for AI in clinical trials: moving beyond digitization to tackle the operational complexity that can slow clinical development.

They explore how agentic AI and “AI teammates” can support clinical operations teams across complex workflows, from site startup and trial oversight to data management and regulatory activities. Rather than replacing clinical research professionals, these technologies are designed to take on repetitive coordination and operational tasks, creating greater capacity for teams to focus on work that requires human expertise.

The conversation also examines what successful AI adoption requires beyond the technology itself, including AI fluency, governance and human oversight. Ram shares examples of how AI-enabled clinical operations can potentially improve productivity, quality and timeliness and discusses where CROs and biopharma organizations may see the greatest near-term opportunities.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why digitization alone hasn’t eliminated clinical trial operational bottlenecks
• How agentic AI and AI teammates differ from traditional copilots
• Opportunities to use AI in site startup and other complex clinical trial workflows
• The importance of human-in-the-loop AI governance and workforce AI fluency
• How AI can help clinical operations teams increase capacity without simply reducing headcount
• Potential applications across trial master file management, data management and monitoring, finance and trial oversight
• What AI-enabled operating models could mean for the future of CROs, biopharma sponsors and clinical development

Listen to the full episode to explore how AI could help clinical research teams move beyond digitization toward more intelligent, scalable and efficient clinical trial execution.

The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not represent those of their organization.

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