The Challenge

Clinical trials are notoriously expensive, especially when run at a global scale. The cost of in-clinic studies is a major barrier to innovation, limiting diversity in trial participants and slowing down drug development. Roche approached us with a bold question:

👉 Can digital technology significantly reduce the cost of running clinical trials?

The Reality

Roche had been conducting large-scale studies on cognitive diseases—Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ASD, MS, and more. While their treatments showed promise, the financial burden of frequent, in-person assessments was an issue.

The challenge was clear: they needed a way to capture the same high-quality clinical data—but remotely, without frequent site visits.

The Breakthrough

We embedded ourselves with Roche’s clinicians and scientists to understand exactly what data was needed and how it was traditionally collected. The key metrics included:

• Fine motor skills – e.g. hand control in delicate tasks

• Memory & cognition – problem-solving, puzzles, reaction time

• Speech changes – vocal shifts, tremors, tone variation

• Gross motor skills – walking gait, balance, coordination

The more frequently these data points were captured, the better. But more clinic visits = more cost.

So we flipped the script:
💡 What if we could capture this same data remotely—through mobile devices—without sacrificing accuracy?

The Solution

We developed a modular suite of mobile tasks and games designed to mirror clinical assessments. Using built-in smartphone sensors, we transformed everyday devices into powerful diagnostic tools.

A few highlights from the 26 digital tests we created:

🎨 Draw a Shape – Participants traced complex shapes on-screen, using touch sensors to measure fine motor control.

🍅 Squeeze the Tomato – A digital strength test, tracking grip pressure through pinch interactions.

🗣️ Stroop Test – Speech-based cognitive assessments using the phone’s microphone.

🤲 Hand Tremor Test – Holding the phone flat on an outstretched hand, sensors measured micro-movements and tremors.

🎤 Cheers the Monster – Designed for children, this test used voice sensors to measure sustained vocal strength.

🚶 Walk Test – Participants walked in a straight line while the phone’s accelerometer and pedometer tracked changes in gait.

These tests were built as plug-and-play modules, allowing Roche to customise assessments per study. Gamification techniques kept engagement high, ensuring better data quality.

The Impact

By shifting data capture from clinics to mobile, we:

✔️ Reduced trial costs significantly by cutting down clinic visits.

✔️ Increased participant diversity, enabling data collection from broader geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

✔️ Improved data frequency and accuracy, capturing daily insights instead of periodic check-ins.

✔️ Paved the way for the future of decentralised clinical trials.

This approach wasn’t just innovative—it was transformative. Roche now has a scalable, cost-effective model for conducting global clinical trials, bringing life-changing treatments to market faster.