LONDON -- (Marketwire) -- 03/13/13 -- The U.S.-based patient network and real-time research platform PatientsLikeMe unveils its global clinical trials tool today at Europe's Healthcare Innovation Expo 2013, hosted by the National Health Service (NHS). The free tool, unveiled today by Research Director Paul Wicks Ph.D., draws on open data to match patients from around the globe with clinical trials based on their condition and location. The U.S. prototype was launched last year and has already helped thousands of patients find suitable clinical trials. The tool is available at http://www.patientslikeme.com/clinical_trials.

"Open data helps us accelerate the pace of research, and it's crucial we do everything possible to match patients to trials that might advance treatment and help them live better with their condition," says Wicks, a newly named TED Fellow and UK scientist. "We're excited to be at this year's Expo to learn what British and European healthcare innovation has in store for the NHS."

Last week, PatientsLikeMe Co-founder and Chairman Jamie Heywood spoke about innovative solutions to healthcare at the 2013 Nuffield Trust Health Policy Summit in London. Nuffield Trust is an independent source of evidence-based research and policy analysis for improving health care in the UK. Heywood returns to London tomorrow to speak on the Expo's Masterclass Stage about the importance of measurement in building a learning health system.

In his Nuffield speech, Heywood called for a "revolution in measurement," or what he calls "measurement-based medicine." He adds, "We should measure the severity of each condition and its impact on the patient. The measurement should support the patient in life choices, clinicians in care choices and researchers in learning what's effective. And every patient should be measured as part of the care process to the degree appropriate for the severity of their condition, so that their experience can be used to guide the next patient."

About PatientsLikeMe
PatientsLikeMe is a patient network that improves lives and a real-time research platform that advances medicine. Through the network, patients connect with others who have the same disease or condition and track and share their own experiences. In the process, they generate data about the real-world nature of disease that help researchers, pharmaceutical companies, regulators, providers and nonprofits develop more effective products, services and care. PatientsLikeMe is a trusted source for real-world disease information and a clinically robust resource that has published more than 30 peer-reviewed research studies. Visit us at www.patientslikeme.com or follow us on our blog, on Twitter or via Facebook.

Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine