Bayer and Henry Ford Health have formed a strategic research partnership to expand patient access to clinical trials by combining Bayer's drug development expertise with Henry Ford's clinical research network. The initial focus areas are cardiovascular and renal diseases, oncology and women's health, targeting conditions such as advanced cancers, chronic kidney disease and heart failure. The partners will use AI, advanced analytics and electronic health records to improve trial design, patient identification and real-world evidence generation. Henry Ford Health is one of four U.S. academic systems selected for this partnership model, and Bayer recently announced a similar alliance with Colorado-based institutions.
Bayer and Henry Ford Health Partner to Expand Patient Access to Clinical Trials Using AI and EHR Data
Bayer and Henry Ford Health intend to work together throughout clinical trials. Credit: Stock-Asso / Shutterstock.com.
Bayer and Henry Ford Health have announced a strategic research partnership to broaden patient access to clinical trials by combining Bayer's global drug development expertise with Henry Ford Health's clinical research infrastructure and community connections.
Scope and Initial Focus
The collaboration will initially concentrate on cardiovascular and renal diseases, oncology and women's health. Specific priorities named by the partners include advanced cancers, chronic kidney disease, gynaecologic conditions, heart failure, menopausal symptoms, stroke, targeted therapies and thrombosis.
Goals and Approach
The organisations intend to work together across the full clinical trial lifecycle to reduce barriers to participation and make trials more efficient and accessible. They plan to leverage data and technology — including artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and electronic health records (EHRs) — to improve trial design, identify eligible patients more effectively and generate real-world evidence on therapies.
Dr David Lanfear, Chief Scientific Officer at Henry Ford Health, said: "Clinical trials are often the first opportunity patients have to access cutting-edge treatments. Through this collaboration, we aim to make clinical research more accessible, reduce barriers to participation, accelerate the development of new treatments and ensure that more patients have the opportunity to benefit from medical innovation."
Christoph Koenen, Head of Clinical Development and Operations at Bayer, added: "Bayer is consistently exploring new avenues that can help more patients with diseases or health conditions that impact millions of people across the world. We share this commitment to patients and advancing drug discovery with like-minded institutions such as Henry Ford Health that can help reduce barriers to accessing investigational or potential new treatments right in the very communities where patients are already receiving their care."
Tools and Expected Benefits
Key planned initiatives include deploying AI and analytics to refine trial protocols and patient-matching, using EHR data to streamline recruitment, and producing real-world evidence to support regulatory and clinical decision-making. The partners expect these measures to shorten timelines, increase trial diversity and improve patient convenience by offering studies where patients already receive care.
Broader Context
Henry Ford Health is one of four U.S. academic health systems selected to participate in this strategic partnership model with Bayer. Earlier this month, Bayer also announced a separate strategic alliance with the University of Colorado Anschutz, UCHealth and Children's Hospital Colorado to accelerate clinical trial collaboration and drug development.
The organisations say they plan to broaden the collaboration over time to include additional research topics and continue advancing healthcare data science and trial innovation.
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