A Survey on Clinical Trials Using Blockchain Technology

Clinical trials (CTs) perform an important role in advancing medical research, enabling the development and adoption of new treatments and helping to the development of the healthcare. Effectively managing the participants personal data and ensuring compliance with existing regulations are vital for the success of a CT. Healthcare institutions must obtain consent from participants that is given freely, specifically informed and no ambiguity before collecting their data. However, the current technical solutions have limitations in controlling the level of consent granularity and addressing changes that are dynamic in consent across time. To overcome these challenges, there is a requirement to implement a scattered and trusted approach for managing data in clinical studies. Blockchain technology offers a range of capabilities that can securely maintain consent information without relying on a centralized or dedicated third party.