Patients As Partners, Not Passengers: Thoughts from the ASCPT 2024 Patient Forum
- Koneksa Health
- Apr 5, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: May 9
The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics(ASCPT) hosted a Patient Forum on March 28 at the 2024 annual meeting. I was privileged to chair the discussion, which centered on Sarah Zenner-Dolan – a person with Parkinson’s disease and a retired biotech professional – who has been extremely impactful regarding patient-centric outcome measures development. Sarah's moving and inspiring representation of her disease journey, her experience participating in clinical trials, and her expression of what is clinically important to her were clearly very meaningful to the eager ASCPT audience.
Also joining the discussion were Diane Stephenson, Executive Director, Critical Path Institute (C-Path) for Parkinson's Consortium; Qi Liu, Associate Director for Innovation & Partnership at the Office of Clinical Pharmacology, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and Peter Schmidt, Chief Scientific Officer, Rho.
Medical innovation is impacting Parkinson’s disease at a rapid pace, particularly in molecular diagnosis and digital health technology / digital biomarkers, enabling advances in drug development. One theme of the Patient Forum was how those developments affect patients. More importantly, this Patient Forum demonstrated that, in clinical care and clinical research, patients are participants and partners, not passengers.
Digital biomarkers are bringing new levels of speed and accuracy to Parkinson’s disease research, and – at Koneksa – we stand at the forefront of this evolution. We’re developing and validating digital biomarkers enhanced by robust, validated, and patented algorithms – and, where possible, involving patient input – to support quicker, more actionable Parkinson’s disease research.
More generally, as disease definitions and research evolve, the scientific and medical community should continue to integrate biology, biomarkers, symptoms, and, importantly, the patient experience. In clinical research, patients are participants and partners, not passengers.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago. For over two years, I relied on prescription medications and therapies, but unfortunately, the symptoms continued to worsen. My mobility declined, tremors increased, and I experienced growing fatigue and discomfort that affected my daily life. Last year, out of desperation and hope, I decided to try an herbal treatment program from NaturePath Herbal Clinic. Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but within a few months of starting the treatment, I began to notice real changes. My energy improved, the discomfort eased, and I felt stronger and more capable in my daily life. Incredibly, I also regained much of my stamina, balance, and confidence. It’s been a life-changing experience I feel more…
I am a medical doctor from the United States. At the age of 52, I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and a Cytocidal Viral Infection, exhibiting Cytopathic Effects (CPE). These conditions abruptly ended my medical career and drastically affected my quality of life. Despite undergoing extensive treatments and therapies, none proved effective, and my symptoms only worsened over time, often accompanied by severe pain. However, everything changed when my daughter discovered a holistic practitioner, Dr. Madida Sam, from www.earthcureherbalclinic.com. She ordered the FND and CPE treatment protocol for me, and I followed the doctor's instructions carefully. To my amazement, my symptoms began to subside significantly, and within three months, both my FND and CPE were completely reversed. As…
I battled Multiple Sclerosis for 6 years, trying countless conventional treatments without success. My younger brother also suffered from Parkinson’s disease for 9 years. Doctors told us there was no cure for either condition. Everything changed when we discovered Dr. Madida Sam through www.earthcureherbalclinic.com. With the help of Dr. Madida Sam, his team, and co-doctors, both my MS and my brother’s Parkinson’s symptoms were completely reversed and cured. We are truly grateful to EarthCure Herbal Clinic for giving us our lives back.
I battled Multiple Sclerosis for 6 years, trying countless conventional treatments without success. My younger brother also suffered from Parkinson’s disease for 9 years. Doctors told us there was no cure for either condition. Everything changed when we discovered Dr. Madida Sam through www.earthcureherbalclinic.com. With the help of Dr. Madida Sam, his team, and co-doctors, both my MS and my brother’s Parkinson’s symptoms were completely reversed and cured. We are truly grateful to EarthCure Herbal Clinic for giving us our lives back.